Simultaneous Measurements of Thermal Conductivity and Diffusivity of Se85-xTe15Sbx (x = 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) Chalcogenide Glasses at Room Temperature

Abstract

Measurements of thermal conductivity (λ) and thermal diffusivity (χ) of Se85—xTe15Sbx (x = 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) thin pellets, prepared at a constant pressure of 4.33 × 108 Pa, have been carried out at room temperature using the transient plane source (TPS) technique. The measured values of both λ and χ have been used to determine the specific heat per unit volume (ϱcp) of these glasses in the composition range of investigation. The variation of λ and χ is found to have a maximum at 4 at% Sb. This is suggestive of the fact that 4 at% of Sb can be considered as a critical composition at which the alloy becomes chemically ordered and maximum thermal stable than at other compositions. Further addition of Sb in the alloy decreases the values of thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity. Specific heat per unit volume of the glass under investigation have been found to be minimum at 4 at% of Sb and increases with the further addition of Sb in the alloy. This behaviour is explained on the basis of bond formation between Se and Sb at different compositions.