The potential of chemical bonding to design crystallization and vitrification kinetics

Christoph Persch, Maximilian J. Müller, Aakash Yadav, Julian Pries, Natalie Honné, Peter Kerres, Shuai Wei, Hajime Tanaka, Paolo Fantini, Enrico Varesi, Fabio Pellizzer and Matthias Wuttig ()
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Christoph Persch: RWTH Aachen University
Maximilian J. Müller: RWTH Aachen University
Aakash Yadav: RWTH Aachen University
Julian Pries: RWTH Aachen University
Natalie Honné: RWTH Aachen University
Peter Kerres: RWTH Aachen University
Shuai Wei: RWTH Aachen University
Hajime Tanaka: University of Tokyo
Paolo Fantini: Micron Technology Inc.
Enrico Varesi: Micron Technology Inc.
Fabio Pellizzer: Micron Technology Inc.
Matthias Wuttig: RWTH Aachen University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Controlling a state of material between its crystalline and glassy phase has fostered many real-world applications. Nevertheless, design rules for crystallization and vitrification kinetics still lack predictive power. Here, we identify stoichiometry trends for these processes in phase change materials, i.e. along the GeTe-GeSe, GeTe-SnTe, and GeTe-Sb2Te3 pseudo-binary lines employing a pump-probe laser setup and calorimetry. We discover a clear stoichiometry dependence of crystallization speed along a line connecting regions characterized by two fundamental bonding types, metallic and covalent bonding. Increasing covalency slows down crystallization by six orders of magnitude and promotes vitrification. The stoichiometry dependence is correlated with material properties, such as the optical properties of the crystalline phase and a bond indicator, the number of electrons shared between adjacent atoms. A quantum-chemical map explains these trends and provides a blueprint to design crystallization kinetics.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25258-3

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25258-3

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