chalcogenide glass

glass

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June 24, 2026

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Chalcogenide glasses are a type of nonoxide glass formed by combining chalcogen elements (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) with elements from groups IV and V of the periodic table, such as germanium, arsenic, or antimony. These materials exhibit semiconducting properties, making them useful in electronic devices like threshold and memory switching devices, and in xerography.1

Unlike traditional oxide glasses, chalcogenide glasses have a structure composed of chains of varying lengths and orientations. These chains are formed by the bonding of chalcogen elements, which have a 2-coordination requirement, and are cross-linked by elements like arsenic or germanium that have 3- or 4-coordination. This unique atomic structure is responsible for their semiconducting behavior.23

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glass
Adding colour and special properties
…class of materials is the chalcogenide glasses, which are selenides, containing thallium, arsenic, tellurium, and antimony in various proportions. They behave as amorphous semiconductors. Their photoconductive properties are also valuable.
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…class of materials is the chalcogenide glasses, which are selenides, containing thallium, arsenic, tellurium, and antimony in various proportions. They behave as amorphous semiconductors. Their photoconductive properties are also valuable.
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industrial glass
Electronic conduction
…amounts of transition-metal ions and chalcogenides. In metallic solids there are a large number of weakly bound electrons that can move about freely through the crystal structure, but in insulating solids the electrons are confined to specific energy levels known as valence and conduction bands. As the temperature is raised,…
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…amounts of transition-metal ions and chalcogenides. In metallic solids there are a large number of weakly bound electrons that can move about freely through the crystal structure, but in insulating solids the electrons are confined to specific energy levels known as valence and conduction bands. As the temperature is raised,…
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industrial glass
Zachariasen’s model
Chalcogenide glasses, for instance, are chains of random lengths and random orientation formed by the bonding of the chalcogen elements sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. Ions of these elements have a 2-coordination requirement, and the chains are cross-linked by 3- or 4-coordinated elements such as arsenic,…
Read More
Chalcogenide glasses, for instance, are chains of random lengths and random orientation formed by the bonding of the chalcogen elements sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. Ions of these elements have a 2-coordination requirement, and the chains are cross-linked by 3- or 4-coordinated elements such as arsenic,…
Read More