Manifestation of intermediate phase in mechanical properties: Nano-indentation studies on Ge–Te–Si bulk chalcogenide glasses

Nano-indentation studies have been undertaken on bulk Ge15Te85−xSix glasses (0≤x≤9), to estimate hardness, H and elastic modulus, E. It is found that E and H increase initially with the increase in the atomic percent of Si. Further, a plateau is seen in the composition dependence of E and H in the composition range 2≤x≤6. It is also seen that the addition of up to 2 at% Si increases the density ρ of the glass considerably; however, further additions of Si lead to a near linear reduction in ρ, in the range 2≤x≤6. Beyond x=6, ρ increases again with Si content. The variation of molar volume Vm brings out a more fascinating picture. A plateau is seen in the intermediate phase suggesting that the molecular structure of the glasses is adapting to keep the count of constraints fixed in this particular phase. The observed variations in mechanical properties are associated with the Boolchand’s intermediate phase in the present glassy system, in the composition range 2≤x≤6, suggested earlier from calorimetric and electrical switching studies. The present results reveal rather directly the existence of the intermediate phase in elastic and plastic properties of chalcogenide glasses.