Structure and properties of silver phosphate glasses doped with copper oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Copper oxide nanoparticle-doped silver phosphate glasses were prepared by the melt quench technique. X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to study the structural and morphological changes. Electrical conductivity, dielectric constant and dielectric loss were measured at different temperatures and frequencies. Additions of copper oxide nanoparticles in silver phosphate glass network reduced the activation energy for conduction. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed an improvement in the stability of the silver phosphate glass network by the incorporation of copper oxide nanoparticles.