Structural and kinetic studies of crystallization of Te51As42Cu7 chalcogenide glass

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique was used to investigate the kinetics of crystallization in Te51As42Cu7 chalcogenide glass. Non-isothermal measurements were performed at different heating rates (2–99 K min−1). Two exothermic peaks were observed reflecting the presence of multiple phases in agreement with the structural investigation. A strong heating rate dependence of the activation energies associated with the two peaks was observed when the data were analyzed using Matusita model. This variation of the activation energy was confirmed by the application of the different isoconversional methods. These methods showed that the activation energy of crystallization is not constant but varies with temperature. Different temperature dependence of the activation energy was observed for the two crystallization peaks.