Effect of topological thresholds on thermal behaviour of germanium telluride glasses containing metallic additive

Abstract

Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) studies on Ag_xGe₁₅Te_85-x glasses have been undertaken over a wide range of compositions, to understand the effect of topological thresholds on thermal properties. It is found that the compositional dependence of glass transition temperature (T_g ), crystallization temperature (T_c), activation energy for crystallization (ΔE) and thermal stability show (ΔT) anomalies at the rigidity percolation threshold. Unusual variations also observed in different thermal properties at the composition x = 20, clearly establishes the occurrence of chemical threshold in these glasses.