Symmetry transitions beyond the nanoscale in pressurized silica glass.

ABSTRACT: Silica is the paradigmatic network glass-former and understanding its response to pressure is essential for comprehending the mechanical properties of silica-based materials and the behavior of silicate melts in the Earth's interior. While pressure (P)-induced changes in the short-range structure-particularly the breakdown of tetrahedral symmetry-have been well documented, structural transformations on larger length scales, important for many material properties, remain poorly understood. Here, we numerically investigate the three-dimensional structure of silica glass as a function of compression up to P ≈ 100 GPa. Using a many-body correlation function, we reveal a complex medium-range order: While for P ≲ 10 GPa, one finds tetrahedral, octahedral, and cubic symmetrie

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12625967 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature