Specific heat and related thermodynamic properties of (Se₈₀Te₂₀)_100-xAg_x (1 < x < 4) glasses

Semiconductors Laboratory, Department of Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, 143005, Amritsar, Punjab, India

Corresponding author: rthangaraj@rediffmail.com

Received: 12 September 2010
Accepted: 31 October 2010
Published online: 28 January 2011

Abstract

This paper presents the result of thermodynamic studies on (Se₈₀Te₂₀)_100-xAg_x ( 1< x < 4) glasses under non isothermal conditions using differential scanning calorimetric technique. The crystallization kinetics has also been discussed. Thermodynamic parameters like entropy difference between glassy and the crystalline phase, difference of Gibbs free energy, specific heat, and the enthalpy released during phase transformation have been evaluated. The heat capacity jump and fragility of these alloys are also calculated. The results show that the stability of sample is minimum for (Se₈₀Te₂₀)₉₉Ag₁ and maximum for (Se₈₀Te₂₀)₉₇Ag₃ among all the samples.