Relationship between composition, crystallization, and phase separation behavior of GeS2–Sb2S3–CsCl chalcogenide glasses

Abstract The effect of CsCl addition on the nanocrystallization and phase separation behaviors of (100- x )(0.5GeS 2 – 0.5Sb 2 S 3 ) – x CsCl ( x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35 and 40 mol%) samples was investigated systematically by various characterization techniques. Transparent chalcogenide glass-ceramic sample embedded CsCl nanocrystals of ∼50 nm was obtained successfully through one-step melt-quenching method in a glass with elaborated composition of 37.5GeS 2 ·37.5Sb 2 S 3 ·25CsCl, which is around the critical solubility of CsCl in GeS 2 – Sb 2 S 3 based glasses. With the further addition of CsCl ( x > 25 mol%), phase separation with different droplet and interpenetrating structures were observed for the first time in chalcogenide glasses. The recognition of these phenomena would be of guiding significance for the future design and fabrication of chalcogenide glass-ceramics with specific microstructures and optical functionalities.