Kinetics of phase transformation of carbon nanotubes containing Se85Te10Ag5 glassy composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) containing glassy composites [(Se85Te10Ag5)100-X(CNT)X] (X = 0, 3 and 5) have been prepared by the melt-quenching technique. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique was used to study changes in the kinetics of phase transformations of [(Se85Te10Ag5)100-X(CNT)X] (X = 0, 3 and 5) after the incorporation of CNTs under non-isothermal conditions at different heating rates (5, 10, 15 and 20 K min−1). The calculated values of the activation energy of crystallization (Ec) and the Avrami index (n) decrease whereas the activation energy of the glass transition (Eg) increases for CNTs containing glass composites; such effects are explained on the basis of effective CNTs mediating through a cross-link with the pure-Se85Te10Ag5 glassy matrix. The superiority of the CNT-Se85Te10Ag5 glassy composite over the pure glassy alloy have also been briefly mentioned in regard to electrical, thermal and mechanical properties at room temperature.