Silver Sodalites-A Chemistry Approach Towards Reversible Optical Data Storage

Abstract

The use of silver-containing sodalites as novel materials for reversible optical data storage is proposed. Sodalites can be synthesized with a variety of cation, anion and framework compositions using simple hydrothermal and ion exchange methods. Silver sodalites exhibit unique optical absorption and luminescence properties which can be controlled by tuning the material composition and unit cells sizes. The optical characteristics of these materials can be selectively modified using photons, heat, X-rays, pressure or moisture. A system containing oxalate as internal reducing agent can be reversibly marked with a laser beam for many cycles. The composition, structure, silver distribution and optical features of this material are discussed in detail. A possible mechanism for the reversible changes of silver oxalato -sodalite involves electron transfer between two types of silver clusters occluded in the sodalite framework.