Determination of specific heat in multi-component chalcogenide glasses of Se–Te–Sn–Pb system using modulated differential scanning calorimetry

In the recent past, glass physicists have focused their attention on the element lead as a modifier due to observation of carrier-type reversal in chalcogenide glasses for a particular composition of certain glassy systems after the incorporation of lead. Keeping this fact in mind, some new quaternary glasses have been synthesized using Pb as modifier in the ternary Se78Te20Sn2 alloy parent glass. Specific heat studies have been made in glassy Se78−xTe20Sn2Pbx(0≤x≤6) alloys using the modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) technique. An extremely large increase in the specific heat values has been observed at the glass transition temperature. The composition dependence of specific heat values below glass transition temperature (Cpe) and after glass transition (Cpg) has been also explained.

► We have synthesized new quaternary glasses of the Se–Te–Sn–Pb system.
► Specific heat has been evaluated using the advanced MDSC technique.
► Effect of incorporation of Pb is studied on specific heat of the Se–Te–Sn system.