Probing of bonding changes in B[subscript 2]O[subscript 3] glasses at high pressure with inelastic X-ray scattering

Journal Article · Mon Jul 19 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Nat. Mater.

OSTI ID:1008595

Lee, Sung Kuen; Eng, Peter J; Mao, Ho-Kwang; Meng, Yue; Newville, Matthew; Hu, Michael Y; Shu, Jinfu ^[1]

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1. Seoul

Full understanding of atomic arrangement in amorphous oxides both at ambient and high pressure is an ongoing fundamental puzzle. Whereas the structures of archetypal oxide glasses such as v-B{sub 2}O{sub 3} at high pressure are essential to elucidate origins of anomalous macroscopic properties of more complex melts, knowledge of the high-pressure structure and pressure-induced coordination changes of these glasses has remained elusive due to lack of suitable in situ experimental probes. Here, we report synchrotron inelastic X-ray scattering results for v-{sub 2}O{sub 3} at pressures up to 22.5 GPa, revealing the nature of pressure-induced bonding changes and the structure. Direct in situ measurements show a continuous transformation from tri-coordinated to tetra-coordinated boron beginning at 4-7 GPa with most of the boron tetra-coordinated above 20 GPa, forming dense tetrahedral v-B{sub 2}O{sub 3}. After decompression from high pressure the bonding reverts back to tri-coordinated boron but with the data suggesting a permanent densification.

• Research Organization: Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1008595
• Journal Information: Nat. Mater., Journal Name: Nat. Mater. Journal Issue: (11) ; 10, 2005 Vol. 4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
BONDING
BORON
OXIDES
PROBES
SCATTERING
SYNCHROTRONS
TRANSFORMATIONS