Electronic properties of chemically produced silver clusters: grain morphology studies

Abstract

The electronic properties of silver clusters formed on the surface of reduction- sensitized octahedral and cubic AgBr emulsions were studied. Prior to sensitization with dimethylamineborane, SnCl₂ or high pH, these emulsions had the same efficiency. The results suggest that the octahedral emulsion has more potential to achieve a higher maximum speed increase. This difference may be due to fewer available sites for silver cluster formation on cubic surfaces. Gelatin concentration studies showed that the gelatin and/or impurities do play a role in silver cluster formation by high pH treatment. The precise role of OH⁻ is uncertain.

Keywords:

• electronic properties
• silver clusters
• AgBr emulsions
• grain morphology