Nano-silver induced ceramic coloring via control of glaze interface and phase separation

As a kind of rare materials, nano-silver has broad application prospects in the fields of catalysis, medical treatment, new energy and so on. However, there are few reports on the systematic research of nano-silver in ceramic glazes. In this work, different color ceramic glazes were produced by tuning the nano-silver content and optimizing the firing process. The crystalline phase composition, micro-morphology and elemental distribution of fired glazes were analyzed and discussed in depth. The elemental composition and distribution of the samples were studied. The surface of the glazes with varying Ag contents fired under the reducing atmosphere exhibited blue-white. And the blue color is attributable to Rayleigh scattering that may arise because the phase-separation structures existed in glazes. Interestingly, the color of the ceramic glazes with varying Ag contents changed to golden-yellow when the ceramic glazes were fired under the air atmosphere. Golden-yellow color of the samples fired under the air atmosphere is mainly attributable to the silver nano-particles, though Ag+ may be existed in the glazes.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the systematic research of nano-silver in ceramic glazes, analyzing the crystalline phase composition, micro-morphology, and elemental distribution of different color ceramic glazes produced by tuning nano-silver content and optimizing firing process. Glazes with varying Ag contents fired under reducing atmosphere showed blue-white, attributed to Rayleigh scattering, while those fired under air atmosphere exhibited golden-yellow due to silver nano-particles.