Structural Study, Observation of Non-Ohmic I–V Characteristics and Analysis of Meyer–Neldel Rule in Sb-Additive Se-Te-Ge Quaternary Amorphous Alloys

In the present study, bulk samples of chalcogenide (Se80Te20)94-xGe6Sbx(x = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10) alloys were prepared using the melt-quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the as-primed samples was confirmed via x-ray diffraction. Current–voltage (I–V) measurements were carried out at room temperature as well as at elevated temperatures up to 373 K. I–V characteristics point toward ohmic behaviour at a low electric field, whereas non-ohmic behaviour is observed at a higher electric field. The chalcogenide glass with x = 8 shows maximum conductivity in the composition range under investigation. The temperature dependence of conductivity is also determined. The variation of ln(σDC) against the reciprocal of temperature exhibits Arrhenius behaviour. From the slope and intercept, ΔΕ and σo were calculated. The Meyer–Neldel (MN) rule between pre-exponential factor and activation energy is also observed. Conduction mechanism is concluded to be in the band tails of localized states responsible for electrical conduction in as-prepared glasses.