Test of the adiabatic nucleation model in SeTe and GeSnSe glasses

Abstract Se 1− Y Te Y and Ge 1− Y Sn Y Se 2.5 glasses, with compositions Y ⩽ 0.5 and Y ⩽ 0.6 respectively, are investigated. These glasses show a glass transition temperature ( T g ) above the stability limit, indicated by the Adiabatic Nucleation Model (ANM). This effect has to be so because, otherwise, when cooled, these undercooled liquids would crystallize by generalized nucleation near the stability limit and no T g could be observed. This shows that Se 1− Y Te Y glasses for Y 50 Te 50 , which have T g ′ ’s on the stability limit. Pure amorphous Te has to be obtained by fast quenching techniques, where the effective (fast quenching) T g * is higher and Se 50 Te 50 tends to crystallize easily.