Phase change materials: From structures to kinetics

TitlePhase change materials: From structures to kinetics
Publication TypePalaiseau Article
Author Address

Welnic, W (Reprint Author), Ecole Polytech, CNRS, CEA, Solides Irradies Lab,ETSF, F-91128 Palaiseau, France. Rhein Westfal TH Aachen Univ Technol, Inst Phys 1, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.

DOI10.1557/JMR.2007.0301
Welnic, W, Kalb, JA, Wamwangi, D, Steimer, C, Wuttig, M
PublisherMATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY
Year of Publication2007
JournalJOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH
Volume22
Type of WorkArticle
URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2007.0301
Keywordspaper
Pagination2368-2375
Abstract

Phase change materials possess a unique combination of properties, which includes a pronounced property contrast between the amorphous and crystalline state, i.e., high electrical and optical contrast. In particular, the latter observation is indicative of a considerable structural difference between the amorphous and crystalline state, which furthermore is characterized by a very high vacancy concentration unknown from common semiconductors. Through the use of ab initio calculations, this work shows how the electric and optical contrast is correlated with structural differences between the crystalline and the amorphous state and how the vacancy concentration controls the optical properties. Furthermore, crystal nucleation rates and crystal growth velocities of various phase change materials have been determined by atomic force microscopy and differential thermal analysis. In particular, the observation of different recrystallization mechanisms upon laser beating of amorphous marks is explained by the relative difference of just three basic parameters among these alloys, namely, the melt-crystalline interfacial energy, the entropy of fusion, and the glass transition temperature.

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