STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF AG2S/AG SEMICONDUCTOR/METAL HETERONANOSTRUCTURE

Ag2S/Ag hetero-nanostructure has been produced by a simple one-stage chemical deposition from aqueous solutions of silver nitrate, sodium sulfide, and sodium citrate with the use of monochromatic light irradiation. For simultaneous synthesis of Ag2S and Ag nanoparticles, deposition has been performed from reaction mixtures with reduced sodium sulfide concentration. The formation of Ag2S/Ag nanocomposite structures is confirmed by X-ray analysis, high-resolution electron microscopy, energy dispersion analysis and dynamic light scattering methods. It is established that in the contact layer between silver sulfide and silver, non conducting α-Ag2S acanthite transforms into superionic β-Ag2S argentite under the action of external electric field. The scheme of the operation of a resistive switch based on an Ag2S/Ag hetero-nanostructure is proposed.