Glass-formation in the GeSe 2–Sb 2Te 3–CdSe system

Abstract

Chalcogenide glasses (ChGs) from the GeSe 2–Sb 2Te 3–CdSe system were synthesized and the glass-forming region was determined by visual examination, X-ray diffraction and electron microscope analyses. The basic physicochemical parameters, such as: density (d), microhardness (HV) and the phase transformation temperatures (glass-transition T g, crystallization T cr and melting T m) were measured. The Hruby's criterion (K G), compactness (C) and some thermomechanical characteristics, such as: volume (V h) and formation energy (E h) of microvoids in the glassy network, as well as the module of elasticity (E) were calculated. The density, microhardness and T g for the investigated ChGs are within the limits of 4.34–5.24 g cm − 3 , 791.8–1078.0 MPa and 509–598 K, respectively. The mean values of the total bond energy <E>, coordination number <Z>, bond energy of the average cross-linking per atom Ē c and that of the “remaining matrix” Ē rm were determined. The average heteropolar bond energy E hb and the degree of “cross-linking per atom” P were also calculated.