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Title: Crystal structure of low cristobalite at 10, 293, and 473 K: Variation of framework geometry with temperature

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.334545· OSTI ID:6223126

The crystal structure of low cristobalite (SiO/sub 2/) was refined at 10, 293, and 473 K from time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction data. One of the Si-O distances and one Si-O-Si angle change considerably: 10 K, 1.602(1) and 1.617(1) A, 144.7(1)/sup 0/; 473 K, 1.605(2) and 1.590(2) A, 148.4(1)/sup 0/. The angular distortion of the SiO/sub 4/ tetrahedron is greater at 473 K than at the lower temperatures. Root-mean-square displacements of Si and O are greater for cristobalite than for quartz and coesite at room temperature. The negative correlation between Si-O distance and Si-O-Si angle for cristobalite is similar to that for quartz held at a higher temperature (approx.350 K). Any adjustment of the Si-O distance for riding motion between Si and O atoms would reduce the variation of Si-O distance with temperature and with Si-O-Si angle. Furthermore, adjustment of the Si-O-Si angle for rocking of the oxygen atom out of the Si-O-Si plane could improve the correlation between secant (Si-O-Si) and the isotropic chemical shift for /sup 29/Si nuclear magnetic resonance in silica polymorphs. The temperature variation of the crystal structure of low cristobalite cannot be modeled by simple tilting of rigid tetrahedra.

Research Organization:
Department of the Geophysical Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
OSTI ID:
6223126
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 57:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English