Effect of silver‐based photosensitizers on photochromic behavior and mechanism of glasses from spodumene smelting slag

Abstract Silver‐based aluminosilicate photochromic glasses were prepared from 20 wt% spodumene smelting slag, by using 3 wt% AgCl (PG‐Cl), 3 wt%AgNO 3 (PG‐NO), and 1.5 wt%AgCl+1.5 wt%AgNO 3 (PG‐Cl‐NO) as the photosensitizers, respectively. The effects of the three silver‐based photosensitizers on the photochromic behavior and microstructural evolution of the prepared aluminosilicate glass were systematically investigated using optical, structural, and chemical analyses. The results show that under the 365 nm UV light irradiation, PG‐NO glass exhibits the strongest photochromism, with transmittance decreasing from an initial value of 78.27% to 11.17% and full self‐bleaching in 180 min, while the PG‐Cl glass shows the lowest transmittance decrease (remaining at 30.12%) and the fastest recovery (30 min). Moreover, the coloration depth and bleaching time significantly correlate with the density and particle size of Ag 0 nanoparticles. AgNO 3 leads to a high concentration of photoreducible Ag + in the glasses, thereby promoting Ag 0 generation and thus the strong and durable photochromism of the PG‐NO glass under UV light irradiation. These findings provide both theoretical insight and technical support for the preparation of silver‐based aluminosilicate photochromic glasses with promising applications in smart windows and energy‐efficient buildings.