Glass formation, physical properties and optical properties of Ge–Se–Sn and Ge–Sb–Se–Sn alloys

Arsenic-free Ge–Se–Sn and Ge–Sb–Se–Sn alloys were prepared by quenching the melt into water. Their glass formation, glass transition temperatures, microhardness, density and infrared (IR) transmittance were examined. Metallographical examination and X-ray diffraction were used for the identification of glass formation. The glass formation regions are located near the Se-rich corner. For the Ge–Se–Sn and Ge–Sb–Se–Sn alloys examined in this study, the glass transition temperatures vary from 86–54 °C to 13–328 °C, and the values of Vicker’s hardness vary from 55–165 kg mm−2 to 109–191 kg mm−2, respectively. The IR transmittance is very low for crystalline specimens and for most of the Ge–Se–Sn and Ge–Sb–Se–Sn glasses, it is around 55–65%. Absorption peaks of H–O and Ge–O are found in most of the IR results, which indicates humidity and oxygen absorption during sample preparation.