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In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy with Biasing and Fabrication of Asymmetric Crossbars Based on Mixed-Phased a-VOx
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Combining Ultrafast Calorimetry and Electron Microscopy: Reversible Phase Transformations in SeTeAs Alloys
Paul A Vermeulen1, Joost Calon1, Gert H Ten Brink1
1Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands.
Crystal Growth & Design
|June 19, 2018
Summary
Adding arsenic to selenium-tellurium alloys enhances glass formation and thermal stability. This study reveals a two-phase segregation mechanism in these chalcogenide materials for phase-change memory applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Chalcogenide materials like SeTe(As) are crucial for phase-change memory and optical systems.
- Understanding amorphous-crystalline phase transitions is key to optimizing material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate reversible amorphous-crystalline phase transitions in the SeTe(As) system.
- To determine the thermal and structural properties of SeTe alloys with arsenic addition.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing ultrafast differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for thermal analysis.
- Employing transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and elemental mapping for structural characterization.
Main Results:
- Addition of 10 at. % As significantly improves glass forming ability in SeTe alloys.
- Increased glass transition and crystallization temperatures, with a reduced critical quench rate observed.
- TEM revealed a two-phase lamellar segregation mechanism forming trigonal SeTe and amorphous As-rich phases.
Conclusions:
- Combining DSC and TEM provides comprehensive thermal and structural insights.
- Arsenic incorporation effectively enhances the stability and glass-forming properties of SeTe materials.
- The identified segregation mechanism is critical for phase-change behavior in these chalcogenides.
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