Abstract
We report several experimental data capable of evaluating the amorphous-to-crystalline (a-c) phase transformation in $(Ag)_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) thin films prepared by a thermal evaporation. The isothermal a-c structural phase changes were evaluated by XRD, and the optical transmittance was measured in the wavelength range of $800{\sim}3000$ nm using a UV-vis-IR spectrophotometer. A speed of the a-c transition was evaluated by detecting the reflection response signals using a nano-pulse scanner with 658 nm laser diode (power P = $1{\sim}17$ mW, pulse duration t = $10{\sim}460$ ns). The surface morphology and roughness of the films were imaged by AFM. It was found that the crystallization speed was so enhanced with an increase of Ag content. While the sheet resistance of c-phase $(Ag)_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ was similar to that of c-phase $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ (i.e., $R_c{\sim}10{\Omega}/{\square}$), the sheet resistance of a-phase $(Ag)_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ was found to be lager than that of a-phase $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$, $R_a{\sim}5{\times}10^6{\Omega}{/\square}$. For example, the ratios of $R_a/R_c$ for $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ and $(Ag)_{0.1}(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{0.9}$ were approximately $5{\times}10^5$ and $5{\times}10^6$, respectively.