Modifier clustering and avoidance principle in borosilicate glasses: A molecular dynamics study

New insights into the early stage nucleation of calcium carbonate gels by reactive molecular dynamics simulations

The precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is a key mechanism in carbon capture applications relying on mineralization. In that regard, Ca-rich cementitious binders offer a unique opportunity to act as a large-scale carbon sink by immobilizing CO₂ as calcium carbonate by mineralization. However, the atomistic mechanism of calcium carbonate formation is still not fully understood. Here, we study the atomic scale nucleation mechanism of an early stage amorphous CaCO₃ gel based on reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We observe that reactive MD offers a notably improved description of this reaction as compared to classical MD, which allows us to reveal new insights into the structure of amorphous calcium carbonate gels and formation kinetics thereof.

Experimental method to quantify the ring size distribution in silicate glasses and simulation validation thereof

Silicate glasses have no long-range order and exhibit a short-range order that is often fairly similar to that of their crystalline counterparts. Hence, the out-of-equilibrium nature of glasses is largely encoded in their medium-range order. However, the ring size distribution-the key feature of silicate glasses' medium-range structure-remains invisible to conventional experiments and, hence, is largely unknown. Here, by combining neutron diffraction experiments and force-enhanced atomic refinement simulations for two archetypical silicate glasses, we show that rings of different sizes exhibit a distinct contribution to the first sharp diffraction peak in the structure factor. On the basis of these results, we demonstrate that the ring size distribution of silicate glasses can be determined solely from neutron diffraction patterns, by analyzing the shape of the first sharp diffraction peak. This method makes it possible to uncover the nature of silicate glasses' medium-range order.

A modified random network model for P2O5-Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2 glass studied by molecular dynamics simulations

We investigated the short- and medium-range structural features of sodium aluminosilicate glasses with various P₂O₅ (0–7 mol%) content and Al/Na ratios ranging from 0.667 to 2.000 by using molecular dynamics simulations. The local environment evolution of network former cations (Si, Al, P) and the extent of clustering behavior of modifiers (Na⁺) is determined through pair distribution function (PDF), total correlation function (TDF), coordination number (CN), Q_xⁿ distribution and oxygen speciation analysis. We show that Al–O–P and Si–O–Al linkage is preferred over other connections as compared to a random model and that Si–O–Si linkage is promoted by the P₂O₅ addition, which is related to structural heterogeneity and generates well-separated silicon-rich and aluminum–phosphorus-rich regions. Meanwhile, due to the relatively high propensity of Al to both Si and P, heterogeneity can be partly overcome with high Al content. A small amount of Si–O–P linkages have been detected at the interface of separated regions. Clustering of Na⁺ is also observed and intensified with the addition of P₂O₅. Based on the simulated structural information, a modified random network model for P₂O₅-bearing sodium aluminosilicate glass has been proposed, which could be useful to optimize the mobility of sodium ions and design novel functional glass compositions.

(A) A modified structural model proposed for P₂O₅-bearing sodium aluminosilicate glasses. (B) Degree of preferred connection (DPC) of different T–O–T network linkage for LAP, MAP and HAP glass compositions with various P₂O₅ content.