Non-isothermal crystallization kinetic studies on a ternary, Sb0.14As0.38Se0.48 chalcogenide semi-conducting glass

Crystallization kinetics of ternary, Sb(0.14)AS(0.38)Se(0.48), chalcogenide glassy alloy was studied under non-isothermal conditions, using the formal theory of transformations for heterogeneous nucleation. The procedure was applied to the experimental data obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), using continuous-heating techniques. In addition, from the heating-rate dependence of the glass transition temperature, the glass transition activation energy was derived. The crystallization results are analyzed, and both the activation energy of crystallization process and the crystallization mechanism are characterized. The phases at which the alloy crystallizes after the thermal process have been identifed by X-ray diffraction. The diffractogram of the transformed material indicates the presence of microcrystallites of Sb2Se3 and AsSe, remaining an additional amorphous matrix. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.