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Beyond the Average: Spatial and Temporal Fluctuations in Oxide Glass-Forming Systems
Katelyn A Kirchner1, Daniel R Cassar2,3, Edgar D Zanotto2
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
Chemical Reviews
|May 5, 2022
Summary
Understanding atomic-level fluctuations in disordered materials like glass is key to optimizing their performance. This review explores methods to quantify these heterogeneities for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Atomic structure governs material performance, especially in disordered systems where fluctuations are significant.
- Glasses exhibit localized property distributions due to their disordered atomic arrangement, often oversimplified by average values.
- Characterizing statistical distributions (variance, fluctuations, heterogeneities) is crucial for understanding complex glass systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches for characterizing statistical fluctuations in glasses.
- To demonstrate the impact of short-, medium-, and long-range fluctuations on physical properties and processes.
- To highlight the importance of understanding heterogeneities for optimizing glass properties.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental techniques for probing atomic-scale structure and properties.
- Analysis of computational simulations (e.g., molecular dynamics) to model fluctuations.
- Examination of theoretical frameworks for predicting and understanding heterogeneity.
- Focus on oxide glasses relevant to commercial applications.
Main Results:
- Rigorous theories now exist to predict heterogeneities and guide property optimization.
- Fluctuations significantly influence thermodynamic, kinetic, mechanical, and optical properties.
- These fluctuations impact crucial processes like relaxation, crystallization, and phase separation.
- Characterization of fluctuations is essential for improving fundamental understanding.
Conclusions:
- Moving beyond average values to study statistical distributions is vital for advancing glass science.
- Understanding and controlling heterogeneities enables the optimization of structure-property-performance relationships.
- This knowledge is critical for developing next-generation glass technologies, including advanced displays, pharmaceutical packaging, and optical fibers.
