Crystallization kinetics of Ag-doped Se–Bi–Te chalcogenide glasses

Effect of Ag doping on the crystallization kinetics of amorphous Se_80.5Bi_1.5Te_18?yAg_y (for y = 0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 at.%) glassy alloys has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC curves recorded at four different heating rates are analyzed to determine the transition temperature, activation energy, thermal stability, glass forming ability, and dimensionality of growth during phase transformation. Present study shows that the thermal stability and the glass-forming ability increase with an increase in the Ag content which is in agreement with the earlier studies. Our results show that Se_80.5Bi_1.5Te₁₆Ag₂ composition is thermally more stable and has a little tendency to crystallize in comparison to other compositions under study. The increase in thermal stability with increasing Ag concentration is attributed to an increase in the cohesive energy.