Glass formation in the GeSe2-Sb2Se3-AgI system

Chalcohalide glasses from the GeSe2-Sb2Se3-AgI system were synthesized for the first time. The glass forming region was determined by the help of visual, XRD and electron microscopic analyses. It lies partially on the GeSe2-Sb2Se3 (0-70 mol % Sb2Se3) and GeSe2-AgI (0-30 mol % AgI) sides. The maximum solubility of AgI in the glasses is similar to 70 mol %. The basic physicochemical parameters such as density (d), microhardness (HV) and temperatures of phase transformations (glass transition T-g, crystallization T-cr and melting T-m) were measured. Compactness and some thermo-mechanical characteristics such as volume (V-h) and formation energy (E-h) of micro-voids in the glassy network as well as the elasticity module (E) were calculated. The glass-forming ability was evaluated according to Hruby's criterion (K-G). A correlation between the composition and the properties of the (GeSe2)(x)(Sb2Se3)(y)(AgI)(z) glasses was established and comprehensively discussed.