The preparation of quaternary ammonium silver halide and its thermal decomposition property

Novel white precipitates A, B, C and D were prepared by adding the aqueous solution of silver nitrate into the aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium halide salt such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or cetyltrimethylammonium iodide (CTAI). The element composition and property of the material were characterized by using elemental analyzer, XRD, TG-DTA and IR. It was proved that the precipitates are new materials that are different from the well-known silver halide, which are named as quaternary ammonium silver halide as cetyltrimethylammonium silver bromide and cetyltrimethylammonium silver iodide temporarily. The molecules are A: C19H42NAg2Br3; B: C19H42NAgBr2; C: C19H42NAg2I3 and D: C19H42NAgI2. We presume those quaternary ammonium silver halide are compounds which quaternary ammonium positive ion substitutes part of the silver ion of silver halide molecules.