Some optical properties of silver peroxide (AgO) and silver oxide (Ag2O) films produced by chemical-bath deposition

Thin films of silver peroxide and silver oxide have been prepared by the chemical-bath-deposition technique. Peroxide of silver was deposited as thin films on glass substrates from a solution obtained by dissolving bulk silver hydroxide in triethanolamine. Annealing of these films in air above 125°C yielded oxide films. Transmittance and reflectance data have been used to calculate the spectral variation of their optical constants. Thickness of the films varied between 0.05 and 0.1 μm. Electrical conductivity measurements show that both films are insulating. Breakdown voltages of about 625 V/mm and 500 V/mm have been obtained for AgO and Ag2O, respectively, on placing silver print electrodes on the films at various spacings. In their conducting state they have resistivities of the order of 50.0 Ω m. Ag2O films have a band gap of 2.25 eV, while AgO films transmit in the UV and visible regions.