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Phase Change Materials - From Structures to Kinetics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Matthias Wuttig ,
Wojciech Welnic ,
Ralf Detemple ,
Henning Dieker ,
Johannes Kalb ,
Daniel Wamwangi  and
Christoph Steimer
Matthias Wuttig
Affiliation:
wuttig@physik.rwth-aachen.deI. Physikalisches Institut IAAachen N/A D52056Germany
Wojciech Welnic
Affiliation:
welnic@physik.rwth-aachen.de, I. Physikalisches Institut IA, Aachen, N/A, D52056, Germany
Ralf Detemple
Affiliation:
detemple@gmx.de, I. Physikalisches Institut IA, Aachen, N/A, D52056, Germany
Henning Dieker
Affiliation:
dieker@physik.rwth-aachen.de, I. Physikalisches Institut IA, Aachen, N/A, D52056, Germany
Johannes Kalb
Affiliation:
kalb@physik.e´rwth-aachen.de, I. Physikalisches Institut IA, Aachen, N/A, D52056, Germany
Daniel Wamwangi
Affiliation:
wamwangi@physik.rwth-aachen.de, I. Physikalisches Institut IA, Aachen, N/A, D52056, Germany
Christoph Steimer
Affiliation:
steimer@physik.rwth-aachen.de, I. Physikalisches Institut IA, Aachen, N/A, D52056, Germany
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Abstract

Phase change materials possess a unique combination of properties which include a pronounced property contrast between the amorphous and crystalline state, i.e. a high electrical and optical contrast. In particular the latter observation is indicative for a considerable structural difference between the amorphous and crystalline state. At the same time the crystallization of the amorphous state proceeds on a fast time scale. This raises the question how structure, properties and kinetics are related in phase change alloys. It will be demonstrated that only a small group of covalent semiconductors with octahedral-like coordination has the required property combination. This is related to their thermodynamic properties which govern the kinetics of crystallization.

Keywords

phase transformationstructuralkinetics
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 918: Symposium H – Chalcogenide Alloys for Reconfigurable Electronics , 2006 , 0918-H04-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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