Silver Alloy Research Articles

Construction of poly (ionic liquid)-derived gold/silver alloy@nitrogen-doped carbon shell and its application for ratiometric electrochemical detection of nitric oxide

A nitrogen-doped carbon shell loaded with a gold and silver alloy (Au/Ag@NCS) was constructed for highly sensitive electrochemical detection of NO. The Au/Ag@NCS material was prepared by use of SiO2 particles as a template to polymerize imidazolium-based ionic liquids loaded with gold and silver salts, and subsequent carbonization treatment and template removal. The hollow structure of the carbon material acted as a carrier for electrochemical sensing, offering high specific surface area, large pore capacity, robust electron conductivity, and excellent mechanical stability. The inclusion of gold in the composite enhanced its catalytic and sensing capabilities, while silver oxidation was employed as a reference signal for accurate detection. By utilization of the Au/Ag@NCS-modified electrode, a wide detection range from 0.5 nM to 1.05 μM with a low detection limit of 0.32 nM was achieved for NO detection. The electrochemical sensor also exhibited high selectivity and excellent stability. The fabricated sensor was further utilized to explore the release of NO from breast cancer cells, revealing that the electrochemical platform could be regarded as an important method to study the daily tests of NO in clinical application.

Silver Alloy Surface Modification for Mechanical Property Enhancement in Aviation and Transportation

Silver alloys are often used for electrical switches in railway transportation. However, a well-known issue with these switches is their relatively short application period due to certain disadvantages of silver alloys, mainly their low hardness and low resistance to abrasive wear, in contrast to their excellent electrical conductivity. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to increase or maintain the hardness of the surface layer in order to extend the life of worn parts without compromising their electrical properties. Instead of ceramic particles, as in other studies, metallic powders were used, which could increase the electrical and/or thermal properties of silver alloys. The following work presents the use of laser processing as a relatively new technique for metal and metal alloy surface processing technology. In particular, a process based on the melting of silver (Ag) with metallic powders, such as chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) particles, is presented. The aim was for these powders to create intermetallic phases with a silver matrix in the obtained surface layer, significantly improving the mechanical properties based on the formation of the phases coherent or semi-coherent with the silver matrix. Regarding the original practical implications of this work, it was important to investigate the possibility of applying fibre laser for surface property enhancement. The scientific aim was to describe the changes in microstructure and compounds that occurred in the laser-remelted surface silver layer after Ni and Cr particles were fed into the basic silver material. It was concluded that the surface layer obtained after chromium application was without cracks and defects and had a higher hardness than the untreated material. A three-zone structure was also found in the obtained surface layer: (1) the remelted zone, (2) the heat-affected zone, and (3) the matrix material. The remelting zone revealed a higher hardness compared to the untreated material, reaching 92 HV0.3, which is more than twice the initial hardness value.

СHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN METAL ANTIQUITIES FROM THE EXCAVATIONS AT MEDIEVAL NOVGOROD ON THE BASE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

The present paper focuses on the new results of elemental analysis of 94 metal objects attributed to the Christian and pagan artifacts. They have been found at the excavation of Medieval Novgorod and the Novgorod region. The analytical data obtained by EDXRF in the frame of interdisciplinary research project. It includes mostly pendant-crosses as well as the round pendants and mounts with Saints, fragments of the church polycandelons and the pagan pendant-amulets. Obtained results have been examined statistically. Tin-lead bronzes clearly dominate the selection. There are also mixed copper alloys (gunmetal) with tin, zinc, and lead and lead brass. The proportions of silver and pewter alloys as well as pure tin and lead are modest. Obtained data supplemented by further research on the base of Pb-isotope methods and ICP MS results and their geological interpretation will allow to trace the ore sources of the metal objects from Novgorod.

High-concentration silver alloying and steep back-contact gallium grading enabling copper indium gallium selenide solar cell with 23.6% efficiency

Chalcopyrite-based solar cells have reached an efficiency of 23.35%, yet further improvements have been challenging. Here we present a 23.64% certified efficiency for a (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 solar cell, achieved through the implementation of a series of strategies. We introduce a relatively high amount of silver ([Ag]/([Ag] + [Cu]) = 0.19) into the absorber and implement a ‘hockey stick’-like gallium profile with a high concentration of Ga close to the molybdenum back contact and a lower, constant concentration in the region closer to the CdS buffer layer. This kind of elemental profile minimizes lateral and in-depth bandgap fluctuations, reducing losses in open-circuit voltage. In addition, the resulting bandgap energy is close to the local optimum of 1.15 eV. We apply a RbF post-deposition treatment that leads to the formation of a Rb–In–Se phase, probably RbInSe2, passivating the absorber surface. Finally, we discuss future research directions to reach 25% efficiency.

Tools of Different Trades? Merging Skill Sets in Metalworking at Viking Age Kaupang

In Old Norse poetic literature, the smiðr was a master of the arts, able to control and shape multiple materials into various kinds of objects. While the mythological smiðr has been regarded as separate from the real-world blacksmiths and metalworkers of gold, silver, and copper alloys, the archaeological evidence recovered in towns and workshops of the Viking Age, as well as medieval written sources, provide a different perspective. In 2015, a hitherto unknown, well-preserved workshop was excavated in the Viking town of Kaupang in Norway, containing evidence of complex metalworking requiring the skills of blacksmiths and workers of soft metals. In this article, the authors venture beyond the Old Norse myths, into the world of the proficient smiths as multi-crafters and their tools of the trade.

Bandgap engineering of lead-free double perovskite Cs2NaBiCl6 through indium and silver alloying

In recent years, double perovskites (DPs) have received much attention due to their low toxicity and intrinsic thermodynamic stability. However, most pure phase DPs crystals have the problem of weak photoluminescence (PL) intensity. It has been proved that alloying through metal ion is an effective method to improve the PL intensity of DPs. We have successfully prepared a series of Cs2NaBi1-xInxCl6(0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) crystals by a solvothermal method. By alloying Cs2NaBiCl6 crystals with In3+ to adjust the band gap, the optical band gap was increased from 3.06 eV (x = 0) to 3.66 eV (x = 1), and the PL emission spectra showed a broad emission peak. After further Ag+ alloying, the PL intensity was further improved, and the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) was increased to 57.63%. It was confirmed by electronic structure calculation under the framework of density functional theory (DFT) that the composition of Bi-6p orbital near the conduction band minimum (CBM) and the bandgap can be efficiently tuned by introduction of Ag+. Both Bi3+ and Ag+ can locate at the edge of the band, effectively enhancing PL intensity through self-trapping excitons (STEs). The above research showed that the alloying of lead-free bismuth sodium halide double perovskites with other metals can provide a direction for non-toxic and high-performance light-emitting devices.

Near-Infrared Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles Based on Gold-Silver Alloy Nanoclusters for Clinical Diagnosis.

In clinical diagnosis, fluorescent particles are applied to detect analytes in biofluids, such as blood and saliva. However, current fluorescence detection methods have not been optimized to account for the overlapping autofluorescence peaks of biological substances. Gold and silver nanoclusters are known to the novel fluorescent materials and their emission wavelengths depend on cluster size. In this study, we developed fluorescent silica nanoparticles using gold-silver alloy nanoclusters and chitosan (CS) (NH2-SiO2@Au@CS@AuAg) by the layer-by-layer method. Under UV-light irradiation at 365 nm, the emission wavelength of NH2-SiO2@Au@CS@AuAg reached 750 nm in the near-IR region. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the shape of NH2-SiO2@Au@CS@AuAg was uniform and spherical. The fluorescence spectrum of horse blood obtained in the presence of NH2-SiO2@Au@CS@AuAg contained a specific fluorescence peak attributed to NH2-SiO2@Au@CS@AuAg, which was distinguishable from the autofluorescence peaks. These results showed that NH2-SiO2@Au@CS@AuAg has advantageous fluorescence properties for clinical diagnostic applications.

Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Rate of ZnAg3 as a Novel Bioabsorbable Material for Osteosynthesis.

Osteosynthesis in fracture treatment typically uses hardware that remains in the patient's body, which brings a permanent risk of negative side effects such as foreign body reactions or chronic inflammation. Bioabsorbable materials, however, can degrade and slowly be replaced by autologous bone tissue. A suitable material is requested to offer great biocompatibility alongside excellent mechanical properties and a reasonable corrosion rate. Zinc-silver alloys provide these characteristics, which makes them a promising candidate for research. This study investigated the aptitude as a bioabsorbable implant of a novel zinc-silver alloy containing 3.3 wt% silver (ZnAg3). Here, the tensile strength as well as the corrosion rate in PBS solution (phosphate buffered solution) of ZnAg3 were assessed. Furthermore, shear tests, including fatigue and quasi-static testing, were conducted with ZnAg3 and magnesium pins (MAGNEZIX®, Syntellix AG, Hannover, Germany), which are already in clinical use. The detected corrosion rate of 0.10 mm/year for ZnAg3 was within the proposed range for bioabsorbable implants. With a tensile strength of 237.5 ± 2.12 MPa and a shear strength of 144.8 ± 13.2 N, ZnAg3 satisfied the mechanical requirements for bioabsorbable implants. The fatigue testing did not show any significant difference between ZnAg3 and magnesium pins, whereas both materials withstood the cyclic loading. Thus, the results support the assumption that ZnAg3 is qualified for further investigation.

EMHD stagnation point flow of dusty hybrid nanofluid over a permeable stretching sheet: Radiative solar applications

The primary objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of dusty hybrid nanofluid electromagnetohydrodynamics (EMHD) on the stagnation point flow in the presence of solar radiation. Base fluids contain ethylene glycol, water, silver, titanium alloy, and suspended dust particles. Nonlinear differential equations with two or more independent variables define fluid flow phenomena. The governing equations can be solved by the MATLAB solver by employing a suitable numerical method, like R–K fourth order via shooting method. The isothermals for various parametric values have been explained. Because it has the potential to greatly advance the disciplines of industrial and thermal engineering, this proposed model is useful. When compared to using a single base fluid, the combination of two additional base fluid qualities provides noteworthy results. Because we were able to acquire a lower freezing point than water and better heat conductivity than pure ethylene glycol when we employed the combination of the two base fluids. Glycol water is used in car coolant and solar heating systems for a variety of purposes. Impact of embedded physical quantities like electric field parameter, ratio of specific heat, porosity parameter, stagnation parameter, radiation parameter, heat source parameter, and fluid particle interaction parameter for both velocity and temperature are illustrated graphically. Dust particles have a notable impact on various sectors, including the food and pharmaceutical industries. Specifically, they are special importance in applications such as wastewater treatment, solids drying, and the presence of plastic-coated metal items. In the present work, we observe that the stagnation parameter enhances the momentum boundary layer (MBL) thickness because the dusty fluid dominates the dusty hybrid nanofluid while incorporating the Ag + Ti alloy/EG + Water. The radiation becomes more efficient at evenly spreading heat, potentially resulting in a more uniform temperature distribution. Silver and titanium alloy particles may affect the thermal conductivity of dusty hybrid nanofluid when compared to the dusty fluid. The porosity parameter enhances the fluid flow and penetration by the porous medium, which lowers friction between the skin and the surface and reduces resistance.

Early Stages of Metal Corrosion in Coastal Archaeological Sites: Effects of Chemical Composition in Silver and Copper Alloys.

In this study, metal disks with different chemical composition (two Ag-based alloys and three Cu-based alloys) were buried in the soil of coastal archaeological sites for a period of 15 years. The aim was to naturally induce the growth of corrosion patinas to obtain a deeper insight into the role of alloying elements in the formation of the patinas and into the degradation mechanisms occurring in the very early stages of burial. To reach the aim, the morphological, compositional and structural features of the patinas grown over 15 years were extensively characterized by optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Results showed that the Cu amount in Ag-based alloys strongly affected the final appearance, as well as the composition and structure of the patinas. Corrosion mechanisms typical of archaeological finds, such as the selective dissolution of Cu, Pb and Zn and internal oxidation of Sn, occurred in the Cu-based alloys, even if areas enriched in Zn and Pb compounds were also detected and attributed to an early stage of degradation. In addition, some unusual and rare compounds were detected in the patinas developed on the Cu-based disks.

Technological researches of metal artefacts excavated from Majiayuan, Zhangjiachuan, Gansu Province, China

The Ma Jiayuan Tomb in Zhangjiachuan County, Gansu Province, stands as the sepulcher of a distinguished leader and nobles from a branch of the ancient Xirong, a collective term encompassing several ethnic groups in northwest ancient China. This archaeological site spans from the late Warring States period to the early Qin era. Among the myriad unearthed metal artefacts, a substantial portion comprises exquisite gold and silver objects, showcasing a diverse and intricate array of production techniques. These findings furnish compelling tangible evidence for the exploration of metalworking methodologies. This study rigorously scrutinizes 18 metal samples extracted from the M16 coffin of the Ma Jiayuan burial site dating to the late Warring States period (264-221BCE) in Zhangjiachuan County, Gansu Province, China. The analyses reveal that two copper artefacts were cast from copper-tin-lead alloys, whereas gold artefacts predominantly consisted of gold-silver alloys, and silver artefacts were chiefly crafted from pure silver and silver-gold alloys. Examination of the bronze artefacts suggests that artisans of this era tailored their technical choices based on the type and function of the artefacts they fashioned. The production techniques employed for gold and silver artefacts encompassed processes such as hammering, engraving, mold processing, stamping, polishing and inlaying. Notably, the distinct production methods and stylistic features of iron artefacts adorned with gold and silver, as well as animal-shaped gold artefacts unearthed from the coffin, probably reflect the influences of diverse cultures including the Southern Chu culture, Northern grassland culture, and Central Asian Altai culture on the vicinity of MaJiayuan. Through the fusion of these external cultural influences with their indigenous traditions, a distinctive civilization revolving around gold and silver objects was forged.

Photoelectrochemical and Electrochemical Activity of Anodic Semitransparent Aligned and Spaced Titania Nanotubes Formed out of Titanium–Silver Alloys

Photoelectrochemical and Electrochemical Activity of Anodic Semitransparent Aligned and Spaced Titania Nanotubes Formed out of Titanium–Silver Alloys

Silver and Silver Alloy on Carbon-supported Catalysts for Cathodes in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell and Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

This research was focused on the synthesis of 20 %wt silver, silver platinum alloy, and silver-copper alloy catalysts on carbon Vulcan XC-72 supporter for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) cathode using sodium borohydride method. Herein, the ratio of silver and platinum or copper sources was 1:1 by weight. The obtained catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the electro-activity performance was investigated on single-cell testing. XRD and TEM results confirmed the catalytic products of the Ag metal, AgPt alloy, and silver copper oxide (AgxCu2-xO). Therefore, the particle size of the catalytic 20 %wt AgPt/C was observed in the smallest size of about 4.71±1.03 nm. The catalyst was selected for PEMFC and DEFC cathode testing. It showed high power density of 14.68 and 1.26 W/cm2.g(M), respectively.

Modeling of radiation processes of defect formation in materials irradiated with ions

The consumption of materials is growing every day, which means that we will increasingly have to cope with the problems of natural resources and supply. Therefore, humanity is forced to expand its resource base finding ways to use existing raw materials more efficiently, turn previously unusable substances into useful materials and also produce completely new materials from substances that are available in abundance. One of the ways to create new materials is to irradiate a substance with charged ions. The article discusses this technique based on the cascade-probabilistic method, the purpose of which is to obtain as well as the next ensuing use of cascade-probabilistic functions (CPF) considering energy losses for ions. The CPF computations were executed depending on the number of collisions and the depth of surveillance for various incident ions and samples. When computing cascade-probabilistic functions and spatial distributions of vacancy clusters patterns of conduct and finding the real resulting region in gold and silver alloys were obtained. Selection of step and boundaries for calculation were automated. Results of the calculations performed are illustrated in the form of graphs and tables.

Silver-Alloys Electrodeposition for Electrical Conductivities

The needs of the ecological transition are based on a larger use of electricity in several processes and access to new resources in large quantities such as hydrogen. The production of the latest by electrolysis as well as the electrification of the means of land transport and the anticipation of the needs of the aeronautics relies on higher capacities in current transmission. The specifications of the connectors and power transmission devices are increasingly stringent, requiring high-quality coatings when intended for contact current transmission. Silver and silver alloys appears to be an excellent choice for such application [1].The standard electrochemical potential of silver being among the highest, the stability range of its oxides, in aqueous solution, is all the more reduced. In order to maintain these oxidized forms in solution and thus be able to reduce them to the cathode, formulations mixing complex, pH buffer system and other additives have been developed. The electroplating of hard silver in cyanide environments remains the most widely used industrial process, but the specifications can only be obtained by the use of chemical species whose mechanism of action is often poorly known. Moreover, nature and concentrations of additives used in the bath have a direct impact on the coatings properties. An alternative exists in the complexation of other metals with silver, to form an alloy with properties which depends strongly on the electrolysis parameters. To work properly, the working potential must be shifted from the thermodynamic equilibrium [2]. The present study is part of the SILAHPERF project, led by IRT-M2P and UTINAM Institute, which try to investigate the codeposition mechanism of various silver-based alloys of interest with a particular focus on silver-tungsten while seeking for environmental-friendly solution, focused on electrolysis parameters. Indeed, an alternative to cyanides as complexing agent is expected, face to the raising number of regulations. Therefore, a large number of complexing agent are evaluated, with their electrochemical behavior in i=f(E) curves, and with the deposition yield as well as the alloying element content as a function of the deposition potential. As an example for silver-tungsten alloys, complexing agents may be a combination of a carboxylic acid and an amino compound. The most popular couple is the citrate-thiourea system, however tartrate, oxalate, ammonia and urea are also good candidates. Finally, coating properties are evaluated by several technics (SEM – XRD, GDOES ...)[1] M. Myers, ‘Overview of the Use of Silver in Connector Applications (503-1016), p. 14.[2] A. Kola, X. Geng, and E. J. Podlaha, ‘Ag–W electrodeposits with high W content from thiourea–citrate electrolytes’, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, vol. 761, pp. 125–130, Jan. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2015.12.002.

Archaeometric Investigation of a Hunnic-Period Sacrificial Assemblage from Nyergesújfalu, Hungary

Near Nyergesújfalu (Komárom-Esztergom County, Hungary), objects of a Hunnic-period sacrificial assemblage were found in 2021. The Hunnic period assemblage contains fifteen items altogether: four gold lunular mounts, six cellwork-decorated gold oval mounts, two cellwork-decorated gold suspension rings, two gold buckles and fragments of a scale-patterned gilded silver plate. The present study aims to determine the elemental composition of the metal alloy of the Hunnic-period objects and characterise the decoration techniques (gilding and garnet inlays) by using optical microscopy, handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (hXRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energydispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX). The gold objects, including their small parts such as the rivets of buckles and lunular mounts, sockets and filigree, were manufactured from a relatively goodquality gold alloy (>80 wt% Au). The fragments of the scale-patterned silver plate were manufactured from a high-quality silver alloy (>94 wt% Ag), similar to late Roman silver alloys characterised by high Ag content, and was decorated with fire (mercury) gilding. The garnets used for inlays are almandine and intermediate pyrope-almandine garnets. Based on their chemistry, the garnets belong to Group X and probably originate from the placer deposits of Sri Lanka.

Improved CZTSe solar cell efficiency via silver and germanium alloying

In this study, we report systematic investigation of the effects of Ag and Ge alloying on properties of CZTSe layers, as well as, on the performance of solar cells fabricated using these films. In this context, Ag-Ge doped CZTSe layers were produced by selenization of Cu/Sn/Zn/Cu/(Ag,Ge)/Se precursor stack structures using rapid thermal processing. All precursor stacks and the Ag-Ge doped CZTSe films obtained after selenization exhibited (Cu + Ag)-poor and Zn-rich chemical composition. XRD studies demonstrated pure kesterite phase for all reacted films. Raman spectra confirmed this finding. Cross-sectional SEMs showed large grain structure, which resulted from Ag-Se and Ge-Se liquid phase formation that assisted crystal growth during high temperature annealing. While a slight Ag-front-gradient was achieved in Ag-doped CZTSe film, the Ag gradient disappeared with incorporation of Ge into the lattice. Addition of Ge formed a gradient within the material such that near-contact region was more Ge-rich. Solar cells fabricated using films with various compositions demonstrated that double doping CZTSe with both Ag and Ge improved the device efficiency from about 5 % to over 8 %.

Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Corrosion Resistance of Ag-Cu Alloys with La2O3 Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting.

Ag and its alloys, when prepared by a selective laser melting (SLM) process, have a low density and poor overall performance due to their high reflectivity when the most commonly used laser (λ = 1060 nm) is used, and they have exorbitant thermal conductivity. These characteristics lead to the insufficient melting of the powders and severely limit the applications of additive manufactured silver alloys. To improve the absorption of the laser, as well as for better mechanical properties and higher resistance to sulfidation, Ag-Cu alloys with different La2O3 contents were prepared in this work using the SLM process, via the mechanical mixing of La2O3 nanoparticles with Ag-Cu alloy powders. A series of analyses and tests were conducted to study the effects of La2O3 in Ag-Cu alloys on their density, microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance. The results revealed that the addition of La2O3 particles to Ag-Cu alloy powders improved the laser absorptivity and reduced defects during the SLM process, leading to a significant rise from 7.76 g/cm3 to 9.16 g/cm3 in the density of the Ag-Cu alloys. The phase composition of the Ag-Cu alloys prepared by SLM was Silver-3C. La2O3 addition had no influence on the phase composition, but refined the grains of the Ag-Cu alloys by inhibiting the growth of columnar grains during the SLM process. No remarkable preferred orientation existed in all the samples prepared with or without La2O3. An upwards trend was achieved in the hardness of the Ag-Cu alloy by increasing the contents of La2O3 from 0 to 1.2%, and the average hardness was enhanced significantly, from 0.97 GPa to 2.88 GPa when the alloy contained 1.2% La2O3 due to the reduced pore defects and the refined grains resulting from the effects of the La2O3. EIS and PD tests of the samples in 1% Na2S solution proved that La2O3 addition improved the corrosion resistance of the Ag-Cu alloys practically and efficaciously. The samples containing La2O3 exhibited higher impedance values and lower corrosion current densities.

Characterization of an Ancient Bimetallic Alloy from Moche Civilization (Peru).

The Moche civilization in Peru developed marvelous metallurgy, primarily using alloys of gold, copper and silver, with the most famous of them called Tumbaga, which resembles pure gold after a depletion process on its surface. However, they also created objects with more standard single-layer alloys or gilding. To distinguish between these techniques in a non-destructive manner is essential. Here, we analyzed a thigh protector, composed of two parts, one seemingly in silver and the other seemingly in gold. The sample was analyzed using X-ray fluorescence measurements integrated with Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that the silver part is formed of a silver-based alloy covered in a corrosion layer, while the gold part is made of Tumbaga. Moreover, for the first time, the gold profiles of different Tumbaga gold objects, from the same burial, were compared, allowing us to obtain information about the standardization of their manufacture.

Tuning the optoelectronic properties of enargite (Cu3AsS4) solar cells by Ag alloying: A DFT-informed synthesis

The enargite phase of Cu3AsS4 (ENG) is an emerging photovoltaic material with a ∼1.4 eV bandgap and is composed of earth abundant elements with favorable defect properties arising from the differing ionic radii of the constituent elements. Unfortunately, ENG-based photovoltaic devices have experimentally been shown to have low power conversion efficiencies, possibly due to defects in the material. In this joint computational and experimental study, we explore the defect properties of ENG and employ synthesis approaches, such as silver alloying, to reduce the density of harmful defects. We show that shallow copper vacancies (VCu) are expected to be the primary defects in ENG and contribute to its p-type character. However, as shown through photoluminescence (PL) measurements of synthesized ENG, a large mid-bandgap PL peak is present at ∼0.87 eV from a band edge, potentially caused by a copper- or sulfur-related defect. To improve the properties of ENG films and mitigate the mid-bandgap PL, we employed an amine-thiol molecular precursor-based synthesis approach and utilized silver alloying of ENG films. While silver alloying did not affect the mid-bandgap PL peak, it increased grain size and lowered film porosity, improving device performance. In conclusion, we found that incorporating silver such that [Ag]/([Ag] + [Cu]) is 0.05 in the film using an amine-thiol based molecular precursor route with As2S3 as the arsenic source resulted in improved photovoltaic device performance with a champion device of efficiency 0.60%, the highest reported efficiency for an Cu3AsS4 (ENG)-based device to date.