The optical and electrical properties of silver azide and their relation to its decomposition

Abstract

Measurements of the refractive indices, the low-(radio)-frequency dielectric constant, the ultra-violet absorption spectra and the photoconductivity of silver azide have been made. The absorption spectra have been measured at room temperature, at —80 and at —175° C. The photoconductivity has been measured as a function of time of illumination, electric field strength, wavelength, intensity of illumination at various wavelengths, and temperature. The measurements suggest that the absorption of light in the crystal produces excitons and that the photoconductivity is a direct result of the dissociation of these excitons into free electrons and positive holes. The electronic energy levels of the crystal, as determined from these measurements, have been used to calculate the activation energies for the slow photochemical and thermal decomposition of silver azide.