Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of Ga-Sn-Te chalcogenide glasses by differential scanning calorimetry

The crystallization kinetics of the newly developed (Ga2Te3) (x) (SnTe)(100 - x) (x = 32, 34, 36 mol%) chalcogenide glasses were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry under non-isothermal conditions. The kinetic parameters such as activation energies and Avrami exponents were determined using Kissinger, Ozawa, Augis-Bennett, and Matusita-Sakka methods. The thermal stability is evaluated and consistency is suggested for various criteria. The thermal stability of these glasses was evaluated by various criteria, revealing the relatively higher stability of the (Ga2Te3)(34)(SnTe)(66) sample. The analyses of the crystallization phases by X-ray diffraction upon annealing suggest that the SnTe crystalline phase can be effectively controlled and independently precipitated from the glass matrix, generating promising thermoelectric glass-ceramic materials.