Identification of Ag37Sn33Te30 Phase-Change Films for Optical Data Storage

The Ag₃₇Sn₃₃Te₃₀ film has been investigated to determine its suitability as phase change optical recording alloy based on static tester and atomic force microscopy measurements. Switching properties and the recording bit topography of the film are studied. With a writing pulse of power 2.5 mW, width 10 μs, and an erasure pulse of power 0.25 mW, width 10 μs, optical contrast of 31.8% is obtained. Re-crystallization experiments identify the Ag₃₇Sn₃₃Te₃₀ film as a suitable phase change material for optical data storage with a complete erasure time of 1.1 μs at low erasure power.