Glass-crystal transformations in Se80−xTe20Agx (x = 0, 3, 5, 7 and 9) glasses

Se80−xTe20Agx (x = 0, 3, 5, 7 and 9) glassy alloys have been prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique. These samples were structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction. Kinetics of phase transformations of Se80−xTe20Agx (x = 0, 3, 5, 7 and 9) glassy system has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under non-isothermal conditions at five different heating rates. The DSC traces have been analyzed in terms of activation energy and stability by four models viz. Kissinger, Matusita, Gao-Wang and Augis and Bennett models. Avrami exponent (n), dimensionality of growth (m) and frequency factor have also been determined for a better understanding of growth mechanism. The obtained kinetic parameters indicate that stability of the glassy samples increase with increasing Ag content.

Research highlights▶ Se-Te-Ag glasses show single Tg and Tc and thus can be used in Phase Change Optical devices. ▶ The addition of Ag increases the thermal stability of Se-Te-Ag glasses. ▶ There is a correlation between kinetic parameters and Tc-Tg difference.