Evidence of an intermediate phase in a quaternary Ag bearing telluride glass system using alternating DSC

Alternating Differential Scanning Calorimetric (ADSC) studies on quaternary Ge15Te80−xIn5Agx glasses show the non-reversing enthalpy (ΔHNR) at Tg to exhibit a broad global minimum in the 8%≤x≤16% range of Ag, an observation that is taken evidence for existence of an Intermediate Phase (IP) in that range. Glasses at x<8% are in the flexible phase while those at x>16% in the stressed-rigid phase. The nature of crystalline phases formed upon crystallization of bulk glasses are elucidated by XRD studies, and reveal presence of Te, GeTe, Ag8GeTe6, AgTe, In2Te3 and In4Te3 phases. These experiments also reveal that the fraction of Ag- bearing phases increases while those of Te- bearing ones decreases with increasing x, suggesting progressive replacement of Te–Te bonds by Ag–Te bonds.