Structure and vibrations of cerium in silica glass from molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the effect of cerium on the structural and vibrational properties of silica glass. At low-concentration levels, the cerium ions tend to generate longer bonds with bridging oxygens than nonbridging ones, the proportion of which is associated with the average bond length varied with cerium coordination. Formed in the presence of cerium, the bond angles exhibit strong dependence on the types of Ce-O bonds that bring about different angular distributions. Despite the discrepancy in the structures between Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺, similar characteristics of vibrations are observed for the two states. In comparison with the glass formers, the vibrations of cerium that contribute primarily to the low-frequency region show a less localized behavior, whereas the acoustic-like and optic-like modes separate at a much smaller frequency.     

Photoelastic confirmation of surface stress relaxation in silica glasses: Fiber bending and rod torsion

Silica glass samples were given various heat treatments under stress at low temperatures and subsequently their residual stress distributions in terms of retardance were observed using a polarized light microscope, confirming previously reported fast surface stress relaxation while providing more detailed characterization. Retardance profiles of silica glass fibers heat-treated under a constant bending strain in the presence of atmospheric water vapor were measured and fit to a previously developed diffusion-based relaxation model. The retardance of a cross-section of a silica glass rod heat-treated at 650°C in lab air under applied torsional shear strain was also measured to confirm the presence of residual surface shear stress which was predicted by the decrease of torque with time for the rod. Together, these results confirm the low-temperature fast surface stress relaxation which occurs when water vapor is present for both bending and shear stresses.     

Crack propagation in silica from reactive classical molecular dynamics simulations

Mechanistic insight into the process of crack growth can be obtained through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In this investigation of fracture propagation, a slit crack was introduced into an atomistic amorphous silica model and mode I stress was applied through far‐field loading until the crack propagates. Atomic displacements and forces and an Irving–Kirkwood method with a Lagrangian kernel estimator were used to calculate the J‐integral of classical fracture mechanics around the crack tip. The resulting fracture toughness (K_IC), 0.76 ± 0.16 MPa√m, agrees with experimental values. In addition, the stress fields and dissipation energies around the slit crack indicate the development of an inelastic region ~30Å in diameter. This is one of the first reports of K_IC values obtained from up‐scaled atomic‐level energies and stresses through the J‐integral. The application of the ReaxFF classical MD force field in this study provides the basis for future research into crack growth in multicomponent oxides in a variety of environmental conditions.     

Atomic and micro-structure features of nanoporous aluminosilicate glasses from reactive molecular dynamics simulations

Long-term chemical durability of borosilicate glasses that makes them a widely accepted form of nuclear waste disposal is achieved through the formation of a porous aluminosilicate gel layer that provides passivity and limits the transport of water to the reaction front. Detailed understanding of the porous silicate gel layer is thus critical in elucidating the corrosion mechanism of these glasses and to design of new glass composition for waste immobilization and other applications. In this paper, we use the diffuse charge reactive potential to generate porous aluminosilicate glass structures with compositions equivalent to the gel layers formed at the glass-water interface with an aim to understand the processing condition on the microstructure and atomic structure of these systems. We demonstrate the use of the charge scaling techniques is an effective approach to generate these porous structures with controllable pore mophologies. After initial validation of the potentials and calcium aluminosilicate glass structures using neutron diffraction, we created gel structures with compositions similar to well-known model nuclear waste borosilicate glasses. The porosities and the pore size distribution bear a strong correlation to the processing temperature, as well as to the local atomic structure. Thus, by controlling the processing parameters, the generated porous structures can be customized to closely resemble gel structures due to borosilicate glass corrosion. These results provide insights of the micro- and atomic structure features of the porous aluminosilicate glasses and on the optimal procedure to generate porous structures that can be comparable to experimentally observed gel layer structures thus to elaborate on the correlations between the structure and phenomena in glass-water interactions.     

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy on the molecular dynamics in different generations of hyperbranched polyester

Dielectric spectroscopy (10^?2 Hz to 10⁶ Hz) was employed to investigate the molecular dynamics of hyperbranched polyesters where the number of the generation is systematically varied from 2 to 5. As a first result, the dielectric properties depends strongly on the generation of the hyperbranched polymers. For higher generations (3 to 5) at temperatures below T_g two relaxation processes are observed, a γ‐process at lower temperatures and a β‐process at higher ones. The apparent activation energies are around 100 kJ/mol which seems to be too high for truly localized processes. For the Generation 2, only the γ‐process is observed. For all investigated polymers the dielectric α‐relaxation could not be observed because of strong conductivity effects. Therefore, the conductivity is systematically analyzed which obeys the peculiarities found to be characteristic for semiconducting disordered materials. Especially, the Barton/Nakajima/Namikawa relationship is found to be valid. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Mechanical characterization of nanoindented graphene via molecular dynamics simulations

The mechanical behavior of graphene under various indentation depths, velocities, and temperatures is studied using molecular dynamics analysis. The results show that the load, elastic and plastic energies, and relaxation force increased with increasing indentation depth and velocity. Nanoindentation induced pile ups and corrugations of the graphene. Resistance to deformation decreased at higher temperature. Strong adhesion caused topological defects and vacancies during the unloading process.     

Stepwise dissolution of silica surface in alkaline solution revealed by molecular modeling

The atomic scale solid–liquid interfacial process dominates the macro-dissolution of silica, yet its direct experimental observation is challenging. Here we employed the reactive molecular dynamics to model this process in alkaline condition. An elevated temperature strategy under canonical ensemble (NVT) was applied to accelerate the process for sufficient sampling at temporal domain. A stepwise transformation from fully linked SiO₄ network (Q³ and Q⁴) to reduced linkage and eventually aqueous species (Q⁰) was revealed. The simulated dissolution rate agrees well with the value predicted by empirical model. By tracing hydrogen atoms, we found that the dehydroxylated silica surfaces in alkaline electrolyte solutions underwent a transition from Si–O–Si bond cleavage-dominated (mainly reacted with OH⁻) to hydroxylation-dominated surface reactions. The free-energy reconstruction of well-tempered metadynamics reveals that 1500 K accelerates dissolution without altering the reaction pathways. These findings offer novel insights into the evolution of atomic-scale surface configurations during the dissolution kinetics of silica.     

Microwave dielectric relaxation and molecular dynamics in binary mixtures of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)–poly(ethylene glycol)s in non‐polar solvent

Dielectric relaxation study of binary mixtures of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) (M_w = 40 000 g mol^?1) and poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) (M_n = 200, 400 and 600 g mol^?1) with concentration variation was carried out in dilute solutions of benzene at 10.1 GHz and 35 °C. The average relaxation time τ_o, corresponding to segmental motion τ₁ and group rotations τ₂ was determined for PVP–PEGs mixtures. A comparison of these mixtures relaxation times was made with the relaxation times of PEGs in benzene solvent. The evaluated τ_o values of PVP–PEGs mixtures in benzene solution are assigned to the reorientation of PEG molecules. It has been observed that the τ_o value of PVP–PEG200 mixtures increases with increasing concentration of PVP but their values are small in comparison with the τ_o value of PEG200 molecules. In the case of PVP–PEG400 and PVP–PEG600 mixtures, the evaluated values of τ_o are greater than the corresponding τ_o values of PEG400 and PEG600 molecules in benzene solvent. The variation in τ_o values in these systems has been discussed by considering the stretching effect in the PEGs molecular chains in PVP–PEGs mixtures in benzene solutions. The high value of distribution parameter α (≈0.4 to 0.7) suggests that in these mixtures there is a large contribution of segmental motion and group rotations to the relaxation processes. The nature of the formation of hydrogen‐bonded PVP–PEG complex heterogeneous network due to hydrogen bonding between carbonyl groups of PVP monomer units and terminal hydroxyl groups of PEGs is discussed. Furthermore, the elongation behaviour of PVP–PEG complex networks in benzene solvent and the molecular dynamics in the mixture due to breaking and reforming of hydrogen bonds has been explored by comparing the evaluated relaxation times and the Kirkwood correlation factor of pure PEG molecules for their possible use in drug control release systems. The relaxation times of these mixtures are independent of their viscosity, but the elongation of the mixture network is influenced by the PEG chain length and the number of hydroxyl groups in comparison with the number of carbonyl groups in the mixtures. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

High-temperature degradation of butadiene-based model elastomers by reactive molecular dynamics simulation

Thermal degradation of butadiene-based model elastomers was analyzed via a novel reactive molecular dynamics simulation (ReaxFF) method. The molecular simulation was carried out on 40 monomer units connected together. Degradation pathways of both homopolymer and copolymer of butadiene-based model elastomers such as polybutadiene (BR) and poly (styrene-co-butadiene) (SBR) were studied. The evolution of different fragmented products was examined as a function of time and heating rate. The formation mechanisms of different degraded fragments were visualized via the simulation method. The major decomposition products obtained from these model compounds were the monomers and comonomers. Pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (py-GC–MS) analysis was performed on the commercial samples of BR and SBR to verify the simulation results. The results obtained from the reactive simulation were very consistent with the experimental results. The activation energy required for the thermal decomposition of butadiene-based model elastomers were calculated both from the ReaxFF simulation and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results were also in good agreement. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48592.     

基于分子反应动力学模拟的六甲基二硅氧烷热解机理研究

六甲基二硅氧烷是燃烧合成高纯二氧化硅纳米颗粒的重要前体,采用ReaxFF分子动力学模拟方法研究其高温热解过程,讨论了三种不同反应力场对模拟的影响并分析其可靠性,选择其中最合适的力场开展不同温度与压力下的热解产物分析,结合气相色谱实验,揭示六甲基二硅氧烷的热解路径和机理。结果表明,反应力场对ReaxFF分子动力学模拟有重要影响,通过比较分析获得了最佳反应力场,六甲基二硅氧烷的初始热解反应为Si—C键断裂导致的CH₃脱离,温度升高会加剧解热反应的发生且使产物趋向于碎片化,热解的主要产物为CH₃、CH₄、C₂烃、H₂、CH₂O等小分子以及SiH₄、SiH₂、CH₄Si等含硅化合物。压力的改变会造成热解体系浓度的改变,从而影响分子间相互碰撞概率和反应的发生,压力越大则越容易形成稳定的热解产物。     

基于分子反应动力学模拟的六甲基二硅氧烷热解机理研究

六甲基二硅氧烷是燃烧合成高纯二氧化硅纳米颗粒的重要前体,采用ReaxFF分子动力学模拟方法研究其高温热解过程,讨论了三种不同反应力场对模拟的影响并分析其可靠性,选择其中最合适的力场开展不同温度与压力下的热解产物分析,结合气相色谱实验,揭示六甲基二硅氧烷的热解路径和机理。结果表明,反应力场对ReaxFF分子动力学模拟有重要影响,通过比较分析获得了最佳反应力场,六甲基二硅氧烷的初始热解反应为Si—C键断裂导致的CH₃脱离,温度升高会加剧解热反应的发生且使产物趋向于碎片化,热解的主要产物为CH₃、CH₄、C₂烃、H₂、CH₂O等小分子以及SiH₄、SiH₂、CH₄Si等含硅化合物。压力的改变会造成热解体系浓度的改变,从而影响分子间相互碰撞概率和反应的发生,压力越大则越容易形成稳定的热解产物。     

The origin of anomalous water diffusion in silica glasses at low temperatures

Anomalous water diffusion into SiO₂ glass was observed in a low temperature range, below ~850°C, under a constant water vapor pressure of 355 Torr (47.3 kPa). Both the effective water diffusion coefficient and water solubility exhibited an anomalous time dependence. For example, water solubility in the low temperature range increased initially, achieving much higher values than expected based on extrapolation from higher temperature data, and then decreased with time toward an equilibrium value. This phenomenon was reported earlier, but a complete explanation was not possible; a new model is presented based upon glass surface compressive stress generation and subsequent surface stress relaxation. Water diffusion can promote stress generation and stress relaxation, both of which affect the reaction between diffused molecular water and the glass structure. By considering these stress effects, the anomalous water diffusion behavior in silica glass is explained. Furthermore, the same model can account for the reversal of external tensile and compressive stress effects on water solubility and diffusivity in silica glass observed after a few hours of heat treatment at 650°C in 355 Torr water vapor pressure.     

Water adsorption and desorption isotherms of silica and alumina mesoporous molecular sieves

Mesoporous molecular sieves of silica, and alumina, and porous materials of titania, zirconia, and niobia were synthesized by cationic and/or neutral templating methods. These porous materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms and water adsorption-desorption isotherms. Mesoporous molecular sieves of silica with surface areas of 956 and 1072 m²/g and of alumina with surface area of 407 m²/g were synthesized. The Ti₁ Zr and Nb oxide porous materials, however, showed smaller surface areas of 258, 178, and 77 m²/g, respectively, after calcination at 300°C and exhibited only small peaks for mesopores as determined by the pore-size. distributions.Water adsorption-desorption isotherms of silica and alumina mesoporous molecular sieves showed Type V (weak interaction) and Type IV isotherms, respectively. The property of sudden filling of mesopores in theP/P ₀ range of 0.45 to 0.55 in silica mesoporous molecular sieves with well-defined hysteresis during desorption, can be used in the design of humidity sensors. The titania, zirconia and niobia porous materials showed Type I water adsorption-desorption isotherms which suggests that these are mainly microporous. These results suggest that water adsorption-desorption isotherms provide valuable information about mesoporous molecular sieves for their potential use as humidity sensors.     

Molecular dynamics study on the co-doping effect of Al2O3 and fluorine to reduce Rayleigh scattering of silica glass

Further attenuation of Rayleigh scattering of silica glass is required to extend the capacity of long-distance optical fiber communication. To theoretically examine the effect of aluminum and fluorine co-doping on the density fluctuations of silica glass, which is related to Rayleigh scattering, a set of force-matching potentials (FMP) for simulating F-doped aluminosilicates was developed using Bayesian optimization based on density functional theory calculations. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the new FMP could evaluate the densities of silica glasses to which a small amount of fluorine was doped and those of aluminosilicate glasses with a wide range of aluminum contents within reasonable accuracy. The FMP successfully represents the changing role of aluminum from a network former without a compensating cation (threefold coordination) to that with a compensating cation and a charge compensator in the aluminosilicates. Indeed, relative concentrations of four, five, and sixfold-coordinated aluminum observed by NMR measurements were reproduced better than the original Teter potential at a high aluminum content. At an aluminum content lower than 1 mol%, threefold-coordinated aluminum was observed, which is consistent with ESR measurements. After careful validations of the FMP, the effect of the co-doping of alumina and fluorine on the density fluctuations of silica glass was computationally examined. Consequently, it was expected that the co-doping might not sufficiently attenuate the Rayleigh scattering, even though 1 wt% fluorine would be able to reduce the density fluctuations of aluminosilicate glasses for some extent. This is because more alumina-doping increases density fluctuations of silica glass if the drawing temperature and procedure are the same with those for silica glass fiber. Thereby, a possible fabrication process to sufficiently attenuate the Rayleigh scattering of the F-doped aluminosilicate glass was proposed, according to the density fluctuation analysis at high temperature.     

Structural features of sodium silicate glasses from reactive force field-based molecular dynamics simulations

Atomistic computer simulations can provide insights into silicate glass-environment interactions with the recent development of reactive potentials. However, the accuracy of generated glass structures with these potential was usually not fully examined. In this paper, the capability of the reactive force field (ReaxFF) to describe the short and medium range structure features of sodium silicate glasses in molecular dynamics simulations is investigated by comparing a widely used partial charge pairwise potential and available experimental data. Glass structure information such as pair distribution function (PDF), coordination number, Q_n species, neutron broadened structure factor, and X-ray broadened structure factor of the glass structures from ReaxFF simulations were calculated and compared to evaluate the generated glass structure. Advantages and limitations of the potentials and glass forming procedures, as well as areas of further improvement, were discussed. The results show that the recently refined ReaxFF parameters through the proposed procedure enable the simulations of sodium silicate glass structures with minimal defects, which paves the way to investigate water-glass interaction mechanisms with the reactive enabled potentials.     

A reactive molecular dynamics model of thermal decomposition in polymers: I. Poly(methyl methacrylate)

The theory and implementation of reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) are presented. The capabilities of RMD and its potential use as a tool for investigating the mechanisms of thermal transformations in materials are demonstrated by presenting results from simulations of the thermal degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). While it is known that depolymerization must be the major decomposition channel for PMMA, there are unanswered questions about the nature of the initiation reaction and the relative reactivities of the tertiary and primary radicals formed in the degradation process. The results of our RMD simulations, performed directly in the condensed phase, are consistent with available experimental information. They also provide new insights into the mechanism of the thermally induced conversion of this polymer into its constituent monomers.     

模板合成法制备中孔纯硅分子筛的协同作用路线

采用了无机物硅酸钠作为硅源 ,制备中孔纯硅分子筛 ,探讨了溶胶生成、晶化过程、煅烧脱模过程中各条件对反应物种行为的影响 ,确定了在本合成研究中存在的是协同作用机理 ,并确定适宜的合成条件为表面活性剂质量分数必须达到 1 %以上 (适宜的质量分数为 3 %左右 ) ;合成时pH值应控制在 1 0～ 1 2 ;水热晶化的温度为 1 2 5℃左右 ,晶化时间为 2 4h ;前驱物脱模温度控制在 60 0～ 80 0℃。     

Molecular dynamics simulation study on the structure and properties of polyimide/silica hybrid materials

A type of polyimide/silica (PI/SiO₂) copolymer model was established through the dehydration of tetraethyl orthosilicate molecules (TEOS) and bonding to a silane coupling agent. The content of SiO₂ was controlled by adjusting the number of molecules which bound to the TEOS. Finally, the silica was formed into a hybrid model (hybrid PI/SiO₂) with a small molecule embedded in the PI. The model was optimized by geometric and molecular dynamics and the changes in the model structure, Young's modulus, shear modulus, and glass-transition temperature (T _g) were analyzed. The results showed that the density and cohesive energy density of the composites could be improved by doping SiO₂ in PI. Young's modulus and shear modulus of PI/SiO₂ hybrid materials were higher than undoped PI. The tensile strength reached 568.15 MPa when the doping content was 9%. Therefore, the structure design and content control of SiO₂ was an effective way to improve the performance of a PI/SiO₂ composite. The variation of T _g and tensile strength of PI/SiO₂ hybrid composites is consistent with that of PI/SiO₂ composite synthesized in real experiment, which will be a convenient method for new material design and performance prediction. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47335.