Special Issue "What Do We Still Want to Know 90 Years After the Continuous Random Network (CRN) Theory?"
Special Issue Editors
2. Radiochemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Interests: amorphous materials; vitrification; glasses; viscosity; nuclear materials; immobilisation; radiation effects
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Interests: glass; glass fibers; metal-organic framework glasses; amorphous materials
Interests: the nature of glass state and glass transition; the relationship between microstructures and properties of glasses and ceramics; transmission electron microscopy; electron energy loss spectroscopy
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In October 1932, almost 90 years ago, WH Zachariasen published his paper “The Atomic Arrangement in Glass”. Since then, CRN theory has become the most common model for the structure of glasses. While the theory is not challenged for its description of the short-range and long-range structure, glass structure in the medium range (0.5–2 nm) is still a controversial topic, and it has triggered many debates in the scientific community. It is difficult to know how much the progress of glass science has been hindered by the lack of knowledge of atomic arrangements in the medium range. Perhaps, the medium-range structure of glass plays a vital role in the nature of the glass state and its physical and chemical properties.
As the 90th anniversary of Zachariasen's famous paper approaches, this Special Issue will focus on the medium-range structures in glasses, its characterization, formation, and its relation with physical properties. Full research articles, short communications, and comprehensive reviews are welcome.
The proposed topics include but are not limited to the following:
-Characterization of structures of various glasses by advanced structural probes (X-ray and neutrons scattering, TEM, EXAFS, NMR, XANES, Raman spectroscopy, EELS);
-Understanding the glass formation process (inhomogeneities in glasses, clusters formations, correlation between viscosity-temperature relations with the evolution of structure of glasses, influence of cooling rates on properties, etc.);
-Influence of glass structures on its physical properties (brittleness of bulk glasses, high strength of glass fibers, anomalous low thermal expansion coefficient of silica glass).
Prof. Dr. Michael I. Ojovan
Prof. Dr. Yuanzheng Yue
Dr. Shangcong Cheng
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- Continuous random network theory
- Medium-range structure
- Cluster forming
- Local ordering
- Entropy changes
- Nature of glass transition
Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
1. The modified random network (MRN) model within the configuron percolation theory (CPT) of glass transition
Author: Prof. Dr. Michael I. Ojovan
2. New interpretation of X-ray diffraction pattern of vitreous silica
Author: Dr. Shangcong Cheng
Abstract: The striking feature of X-ray diffraction patterns of vitreous silica is that the center of the intense but broad ring locates at nearly the same position as the strongest diffraction ring of ß-cristobalite. About 90 years ago, there were two fundamentally different explanations to the diffraction patterns, one based on the smallest crystals of ß-cristobalite and the other based on the non-crystalline continuous random network. This work briefly outlines the facts supporting and debating these two hypotheses, and aims to present a new interpretation based on a medium-range ordering structure on the facets of clusters formed in the glass transition process. The new interpretation provides a satisfactory explanation of the diffraction pattern and physical properties of silica glass, and offers considerable valuable information regarding the nature of glass and glass transition.