Theoretical analysis on the correlations between the mechanical properties and structures of (100-x)GeS2-xSb2S3 chalcogenide glasses

Abstract

The poor mechanical properties are the bottle neck for the applications of chalcogenide glasses to the integrated devices for infrared sensing and imaging. In this study, a series of (100-x)GeS₂-xSb₂S₃ glasses were synthesized with the substitutional addition of Sb₂S₃ into the Ge-S glass network, and the mechanical properties were affected accordingly. Linear relations were found between the hardness of the GSSx glasses and the topological constraints. The conventional Makishima-Mackenzie model underestimated the elastic moduli of the ternary chalcogenide glasses, while it is promising to quantify the moduli in terms of free energy density of the topological constraints. The creep stress exponent was found to vary with the evolution of glass network rather than the variation of topological constraint. Lastly, the fracture toughness seems to be insensitive to the topological constraints, and the improved local ductility was suggested to occur in the GSSx glasses with high Sb content.