Nucleation and growth in amorphous (GeS2)0.9(Sb2S3)0.1 thin films

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 382; pp. 87 - 93
• Main Authors: Pillai, Suresh Kumar, Podzemná, Veronika, Barták, Jaroslav, Málek, Jiří
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: A1. Nucleation; A3. Amorphous thin film growth; B1. Chalcogenide Glasses; Chalcogenides; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Diffusive momentum transport (including viscosity of liquids); Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; General studies of phase transitions; Glass transitions; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Nucleation; Physics; Specific phase transitions; Theory and models of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth, crystal morphology and orientation; Transport properties of condensed matter (nonelectronic); B1. Chalcogenide Glasses; A1. Nucleation; A3. Amorphous thin film growth; Viscosity; Amorphous thin film; Nucleation; Glass; Theoretical study; Glass transition temperature; Heat treatments; Thin films; Interfaces; Image analysis; Optical microscopy; Growth mechanism
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2013.07.037

The rates of isothermal nucleation and growth in chalcogenide glass thin films of (GeS2)0.9(Sb2S3)0.1 were studied using optical microscopy. Nucleation data was obtained from double stage heat treatment, followed by image analysis of polarized optical micrographs. The applicability of classical nucleation theory (CNT) to the nucleation data has been discussed. The growth data, corrected for viscosity suggest interface controlled 2D nucleated growth of β-GeS2 crystals. The isothermal curves of nucleation and growth determined by CNT and 2D nucleated growth model, respectively were found to be weakly intersecting. The nucleation curve had maxima at 350°C, which is below the glass transition temperature, while the growth curve had a peak at 439°C. •An image analysis technique was developed to count the number of crystals in polarized micrographs with the objective of obtaining nucleation data.•The nucleation data, obtained from a double stage process suggests that classical nucleation theory is applicable.•The growth data can be described by a 2D nucleated growth model.•Isothermal growth and nucleation curves were obtained using classical models.