Glass transition behavior and crystallization kinetics of Cu0.3(SSe20)0.7 chalcogenide glass

The glass transition behavior and crystallization kinetics of Cu0.3(SSe20)0.7 chalcogenide glass were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD). Two crystalline phases (SSe20 and Cu2Se) were identified after annealing the glass at 773 K for 24 h. The activation energy of the glass transition (Eg), the activation energy of crystallization (Ec), the Avrami exponent (n) and the dimensionality of growth (m) were determined. Results indicate that this glass crystallizes by a two-stage bulk crystallization process upon heating. The first transformation, in which SSe20 precipitates from the amorphous matrix with a three-dimensional crystal growth. The second transformation, in which the residual amorphous phase transforms into Cu2Se compound with a two-dimensional crystal growth.