Analysis of thermal processes in the glasses of the system Cux(AsTe)100-x

Abstract

Chalcogenide glasses are promising materials for application in fiber optics and all-optical switching devices at the telecommunication wavelengths due to their high transparency in the infrared region and nonlinear refractive index. In this report we present and discuss the results of analysis of the process that occur during the thermal treatment of the Cux(AsTe)100-x glass system, x=5 and 20 at.%. Analysis is based on DCS curves, recorded in non-isothermal measurement conditions in temperature interval 300-770 K, at heating rate =10 K/min. Samples with x=20 at.% are additionaly thermaly treated at four heating rates in order to implement kinetic analysis of the processes. Activation energy of the crystallization Ec is determined by the methods of Kisinger and Mahadevan. Characteristics parameters of crystallization are determined according to Matusita method. It has been concluded that nucleation occurs in three dimensions and within the volume. Amorphous character of as prepared samples is verified by X-ray method. Diffractogram of the glass sample with x=20 at.%, annealed at temperature close to crystallization temperature established by the DSC analysis showed that in amorphous matrix structural units of copper and arsenic with telluride and copper with arsenic are formed.