Crystallization Kinetics and Specific Heat Measurement of Indium Incorporated Se80te15-Xsb5 Inx (X=0, 5, 10) Quaternary Chalcogenide Glasses

Thermal properties of Se 80 Te 15 -xSb 5 In x (x=0, 5, 10) have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) techniques are employed to analyze surface and structural properties of prepared samples. XRD characterization portrays that Se 80 Te 15 Sb 5 and Se 80 Te 10 Sb 5 In 5 show amorphous nature with an exception of few peaks in Se 80 Te 10 Sb 5 In 5 alloy embedded in amorphous glass matrix but Se 80 Te 5 Sb 5 In 10 shows presence of sharp peaks in XRD pattern demonstrating the polycrystalline nature of this alloy. SEM images show that Se 80 Te 5 Sb 5 In 10 composition comprises of comparatively large crystallites constituents. It has been found that parameters reflecting thermal properties are composition dependent. Characteristic temperatures (T g , T c , T p ) and other thermal parameters like change in enthalpy and change in entropy first increases with increase in indium concentration however a decrease in these has been observed with further increment in indium concentration. Value of Specific heat capacity for the samples has been obtained by the DSC blank run (baseline correction) method. Value of specific heat capacity is comparatively higher for Se 80 Te 10 Sb 5 In 5 and has the lowest value for Se 80 Te 5 Sb 5 In 10 among the three compositions. Crystallization kinetics results show that the activation energy of crystallization is lowest for the alloy containing 10% concentration of indium. An attempt to explain the Observed properties of alloys has been made on the basis of rigid bond network formation capability and metallic nature of indium. Glass forming ability and thermal stability of alloys has been analyzed by the methods given by Dietzel and A. Hruby and it has been found that the most thermally stable alloy is Se 80 Te 10 Sb 5 In 5 while the composition Se 80 Te 5 Sb 5 In 10 is thermally least stable among the three compositions. Thermal properties of prepared samples are compared in order to explore the applicability of these alloys for phase change memory applications.