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Metamict Transformation of Silica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Ju-Yin Cheng ,
M.M. J. Treacy  and
P. J. Keblinski
Ju-Yin Cheng
Affiliation:
Department of Material Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180
M.M. J. Treacy
Affiliation:
NEC Research Institute, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey 08540
P. J. Keblinski
Affiliation:
Department of Material Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180
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Abstract

Alpha quartz can be transformed to a metamict phase in a physical reaction such as irradiation with fast ions, neutrons and electrons. As truly inspired by this fact, we design a simple experiment to produce disordered silica and at the same time watch the transformation using a transmission electron microscope. This work simply presents electron-damaged silica in dark field at Bragg reflection. Since the transformation is not complete, disordered silica (at the sample edge) and retained quartz can be compared in each image. Not surprisingly, more speckles are found in the quartz than in the disordered structure. But it is too early to say no medium-range ordering in amorphous silica because the experiment only shows one Bragg diffraction. Systematic work to complete and measure the disordering again is being pursued.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 762: Symposium A – Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Silicon-Based Films – 2003 , 2003 , A5.18
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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