Effect of zinc additive on thermal transport properties of novel multicomponent chalcogenide Se–Te–Sn system: transient plane source technique

Abstract

This research delves into the thermal transport characteristics of the novel quaternary chalcogenide Se<inf>90-x</inf>Te<inf>5</inf>Sn<inf>5</inf>Zn<inf>x</inf> (0 ≤ x ≤ 9) (STSZ) network, which was prepared using the melt-quenching method. Measurements of effective thermal conductivity (λ<inf>e</inf>), effective thermal diffusivity (χ<inf>e</inf>), and specific heat per unit volume (ρC<inf>p</inf>) for twin pellets of STSZ chalcogenide glasses (ChGs) were conducted at ambient temperature by employing the transient plane source (TPS) technique. The observed a non-monotonous trend in the values of λ<inf>e</inf>, χ<inf>e</inf> and ρC<inf>p</inf> related to 3 at. mass% and 6 at mass% of Zn concentration in the quaternary compositions accredited to the formation of higher-order cross-linking. The two structural units at 3 at mass% and 6 at mass% of Zn are considered as critical (threshold) compositions at which the quaternary STSZ network turns into a chemically ordered alloy. Also, the observed discrepancies in thermal transport characteristics reliant upon composition can be connected to the structural relaxation phenomena of the multicomponent network of STSZ. In addition, a topological framework knowledgeable in constraint theory can provide inclusive clarification for the variations in the thermal transport properties of the STSZ network. © Akadémiai Kiadó Zrt 2025.