Structural Study, Observation of Non-Ohmic I–V Characteristics and Analysis of Meyer–Neldel Rule in Sb-Additive Se-Te-Ge Quaternary Amorphous Alloys

• Published in: Journal of electronic materials 2023-12, Vol.52 (12), p.8182-8190
• Main Authors: Patial, Balbir Singh, Rani, Rozy, Kumari, Anita, Thakur, Nagesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amorphous alloys; Chalcogenides; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Current voltage characteristics; Electric fields; Electrical conduction; Electronics and Microelectronics; High temperature; Instrumentation; Materials Science; Metallic glasses; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Research Article; Room temperature; Solid State Physics; Temperature; Temperature dependence
• ISSN: 0361-5235; 1543-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11664-023-10737-8

In the present study, bulk samples of chalcogenide (Se 80 Te 20 ) 94- x Ge 6 Sb x ( x  = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10) alloys were prepared using the melt-quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the as-primed samples was confirmed via x-ray diffraction. Current–voltage ( I – V ) measurements were carried out at room temperature as well as at elevated temperatures up to 373 K. I – V characteristics point toward ohmic behaviour at a low electric field, whereas non-ohmic behaviour is observed at a higher electric field. The chalcogenide glass with x  = 8 shows maximum conductivity in the composition range under investigation. The temperature dependence of conductivity is also determined. The variation of ln( σ DC ) against the reciprocal of temperature exhibits Arrhenius behaviour. From the slope and intercept, Δ Ε and σ o were calculated. The Meyer–Neldel (MN) rule between pre-exponential factor and activation energy is also observed. Conduction mechanism is concluded to be in the band tails of localized states responsible for electrical conduction in as-prepared glasses.