New chalcogenide glasses in the CdTe–AgI–As2Te3 system

Chalcogenide glasses in the pseudo-ternary CdTe–AgI–As2Te3 system were synthesized and the glass-forming range was determined. The maximum content of CdTe in this glass system was found to be equal to 15 mol.%. The macroscopic characterizations of samples have consisted in Differential Scanning Calorimetry, density, and X-ray diffraction measurements. The cadmium telluride addition does not generate any significant change in the glass transition temperature but the resistance of binary AgI–As2Te3 glasses towards crystallisation is estimated to be decreasing on the base of ΔT = Tx − Tg parameter. The total electrical conductivity σ was measured by complex impedance spectroscopy. First, the CdTe additions in the (AgI)0.5(As2Te3)0.5 host glass, (CdTe)x(AgI)0.5−x/2(As2Te3)0.5−x/2 lead to a conductivity decrease at x ≤ 0.05. Then, the behaviour is reversed at 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.15. The obtained results are discussed by comparison with the equivalent selenide system.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Determination of the glass-forming region in the pseudo-ternary CdTe–AgI–As2Te3 system. ► Characterization of macroscopic properties of the new CdTe–AgI–As2Te3 glasses. ► Characterization of the total conductivity of CdTe–AgI–As2Te3 glasses. ► Comparison between the selenide and telluride equivalent systems.