Structural investigation of Te-based chalcogenide glasses using Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

Structural changes of metals (Zn, Sb, In, Ga) and metal halides (AgI, ZnI2, CdI2, PbI2, BiI3) modified GeTe4 glasses were investigated with the aid of Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of these glasses in the frequency region between 100cm−1 and 300cm−1 display four main bands at about 124, 140, 159 and 275cm−1 which are contributed by Ge–Te, Te–Te, Te–Te and Ge–Ge vibration modes. The intensity of 159cm−1 and 275cm−1 bands vary with the addition of different glass modifiers. While the relative intensity of the 124cm−1 and 140cm−1 bands are insensitive to composition changes. Glass modifiers like Zn, In and Sb act as glass network unstabilizer which will disorganize the glass network by opening up the chain structures of Ge–Te and Te–Te. In the case of Ga and metal halides, Ga can open up Ge–(Te–Te)4/2 tetrahedra and form Ga–(Te–Te)3/2 triangle. Iodine can form covalent bonds with tellurium and decrease the tendency of microcrystal formation. Thus both Ga and iodine ultimately act as glass network stabilizer.