Wednesday 04 June 2025
Scientists have made a fascinating discovery about the properties of silver and gold in quartz crystals. Researchers at the University of Latvia have found that when these metals are introduced into quartz crystals through high-temperature electrolysis, they create specific luminescence centers.
Luminescence is the emission of light by a substance due to an external energy source, such as heat or radiation. In this case, the scientists have discovered that silver and gold can be used to create specific types of luminescence centers in quartz crystals.
The researchers used high-temperature electrolysis to introduce small amounts of silver and gold into quartz crystals at extremely high temperatures – around 1200 degrees Celsius. They then studied the properties of these modified quartz crystals using various techniques, including spectroscopy and photoluminescence.
Their findings suggest that when silver is introduced into quartz crystals, it forms a luminescence center with a specific wavelength of light. This center is responsible for the emission of light in the ultraviolet range of the spectrum.
On the other hand, gold does not seem to form a similar luminescence center in quartz crystals. Despite being introduced into the crystals at high temperatures, gold did not produce any significant changes in their properties.
The researchers believe that the difference between silver and gold may be due to the way they react with the quartz crystal lattice. Silver is known to easily bond with oxygen atoms in the quartz crystal, which could explain why it forms a luminescence center. Gold, on the other hand, does not seem to form strong bonds with oxygen atoms, which may be why it does not produce any significant changes.
This discovery has important implications for our understanding of the properties of materials at the molecular level. It suggests that even small amounts of certain metals can have a profound impact on the behavior of a material.
In addition, this research could have practical applications in fields such as optics and photonics. For example, the creation of specific luminescence centers in quartz crystals could be used to develop new types of optical fibers or sensors.
Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the properties of materials at the molecular level and has important implications for our understanding of the behavior of materials in different environments.
Cite this article: “Silver and Golds Surprising Impact on Quartz Crystals”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Materials Science, Quartz Crystals, Luminescence, Silver, Gold, Electrolysis, High-Temperature, Spectroscopy, Photoluminescence, Optics
