Effect of indium additive on thermal transport properties of Se–Te–Cd multi-component chalcogenide glasses

Abstract

Abstract The thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat per unit volume of twin pellets of Se75Te15–xCd10Inx (x = 0, 5, 10 and 15) glasses, were carried out at room temperature by transient plane source technique. Results indicated that both values of thermal conductivity (λ) and thermal diffusivity (χ) are varied with In (indium) content and highest for 5 at.% of In, whereas the specific heat per unit volume is almost constant with increase of indium concentration. This shows that Se75Te10Cd10In5 glass can be considered as a critical composition at which the alloy becomes chemically ordered and most thermally stable than other compositions. This compositional dependence behaviour of thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity can explained in terms of iono-covalent type bond which In makes with Se and Te as it is incorporated in Se–Te–Cd glasses.