Impact of Ge addition on physio-chemical, optical, and thermal properties of S-Se-Cd-Ge glasses: A study of improvement in mechanical strength

Abstract

Chalcogenide glasses are prepared having chemical formula S_(65-x)Se₂₀Cd₁₅Ge_x (x = 5, 10, 15, 20 at wt.%) using melt quenching method. The X-ray diffraction analysis affirms the amorphous nature of the glass samples. The obtained energy band gap value decreases from 2.27 eV to 1.96 eV, whereas the Urbach energy value rises from 0.35 eV to 0.71 eV with Ge addition. The Wemple-Di Domenico model is being used for the dispersion analysis and to evaluate the energy dispersion parameters. Longitudinal, and transverse velocities are found to upsurge from (2770–3250) m.s⁻¹, and (1680–1970) m.s⁻¹, respectively. The Bond compression model indicates an increment in longitudinal modulus from (21.56 - 32.53) Gpa and Young's modulus from (43.88–61.08) Gpa with increasing Ge atoms. Thermal parameters like glass transition temperature are found to decrease from (435–401)K and (580–530)K, correspondingly, with the addition of Ge atoms.