Calculating the Phase Transformation Kinetics Using Impedance Spectroscopy for Sb2Te3

Abstract

This paper describes a simple form, the theory to determine the crystallization fraction during the phase transformation of a solid, at a constant heating rate, from data obtained by impedance spectroscopy, where the change of the applied alternating voltage and measured current are proportional to the microstructural changes at the sample, corresponding to the volume fraction of a series layer model of two phases. To determine the volume fraction of each phase present in the sample, electrical data are obtained: conductivity and permittivity at DC, which are modeled by an electrical circuit composed by 2-RC, taking into that the permittivity and the occupied volume correspond to the filling fraction of each phase. By Cathodic Erosion or Sputtering, samples were obtained in film form of about 500 in thickness, composed of an alloy of Sb2Te3, in amorphous phase. To ensure the existence of the phase transformation in the sample, phase transition tests are performed by changes in: Reflection Optics, Electrical Resistivity and X-Ray Diffraction, showing clearly the presence of such a transformation. In the final part of this work, it completely shows the experimental results, giving a clear and precise idea of the kinetics of phase transformation of Sb2Te3 alloy, by impedance spectroscopy technique, which proves to be a simple and practical calculation tool.