Conductivity of AgX(As40Se60)100-X bulk glasses

The samples of Ag-x(As(40)Se(6)0)(100-x) bulk glasses were prepared by standard melt-quenching technique. Thermal and electrical properties were studied on prepared glasses. Temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry has been used to measure glass transition, cold crystallization and melting temperatures of the prepared samples. Electrical transport properties have been studied by impedance spectroscopy and d.c. conductivity measurements. The activation energy of the conductivity has been calculated from the Arrhenius plot. The compositional dependence of conductivity shows an increase of conductivity with increasing silver content. Impedance spectra of studied glasses have been characterized with one semicircle, with exception of the sample containing 9 atomic % of silver. There were obtained impedance spectra with two semicircles. This phenomenon is discussed in the terms of Bauerle's easy path theory.