Effect of Thermal Neutron Radiation Dose on Density of Local and Extended Energy States in Se55S20Sb15Sn10 Alloy

Abstract

Four samples of the Se₅₅S₂₀Sb₁₅Sn₁₀ alloy were prepared using the melting point method. Samples B, C and D were irradiated with (6.04×10¹⁰, 12.08×10¹⁰ and 18.12×10¹⁰ (n.cm^-2s^-1) of thermal neutron beam from a neutron source (241Am-9Be) respectively, while sample A was left not irradiated. The electrical properties were assessed both before and after the radiation.  All irradiated and non-irradiated samples show three conduction mechanisms, at low temperatures, electrical conductivity is achieved by electron hopping between local states near the Fermi level. At intermediate temperatures, conduction occurs by the jumping of electrons between local states at band tails. At high temperatures, electrons transfer between extended states in bands. The results show that the local and extended state densities above the Fermi level are affected by exposure to thermal neutron radiation.