Study of microstructure in Ag (As0.33Se0.67)100− chalcogenide glasses

Abstract Glasses with general formula Ag x (As 0.33 Se 0.67 ) 100− x were studied by means of modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), conductivity and permittivity measurements and atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM). In the whole range of doping ( x = 2–12 at.% Ag) a phase separation was supposed. The proportional amount of the ion-conductive Ag rich phase increased with the Ag content. A rapid increase (almost four orders of magnitude) in the conductivity was observed in the Ag concentration range 4–8 at.%, which could be associated with the interconnection of this ion-conductive phase. The transition from a hole conductivity (at low Ag concentration) to a mixed ionic-hole conductivity at higher Ag concentration was studied by permittivity measurements.