Identification of Te alloys with suitable phase change characteristics

At present, the discovery and development of phase change materials is mainly based upon empirical strategies and trial and error approaches. Here, we present a structural criterion that needs to be met to enable the mandatory fast recrystallization with sufficient optical contrast that characterizes suitable phase change materials. Comparing the behavior of AgInTe(2) and AgSbTe(2) films it is demonstrated that only the AgSbTe(2) films, which show a cubic coordination, have sufficient density contrast, and hence, also optical contrast to allow phase change recording. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.