Article abstract
Nature Materials 3, 804 - 809 (2004)
Published online: 24 October 2004 | doi:10.1038/nmat1241
Subject Categories: Glasses | Mechanical properties | Characterisation and analytical techniques
Amorphous silicon exhibits a glass transition
André Hedler1, Siegfried Ludwig Klaumünzer2 & Werner Wesch1
Abstract
Amorphous silicon is a semiconductor with a lower density than the metallic silicon liquid. It is widely believed that the amorphous–liquid transition is a first-order melting transition. In contrast to this, recent computer simulations and the experimental observation of pressure-induced amorphization of nanoporous silicon have revived the idea of an underlying liquid–liquid phase transition implying the existence of a low-density liquid and its glass transition to the amorphous solid. Here we demonstrate that during irradiation with high-energy heavy ions amorphous silicon deforms plastically in the same way as conventional glasses. This behaviour provides experimental evidence for the existence of the low-density liquid. The glass transition temperature for a timescale of 10 picoseconds is estimated to be about 1,000 K. Our results support the idea of liquid polymorphism as a general phenomenon in tetrahedral networks.
- Institut für Festkörperphysik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, D-07743 Jena, Germany
-
Hahn-Meitner-Institut, Glienicker Stra
e 100, D-14109 Berlin, Germany
Correspondence to: André Hedler1 e-mail: Hedler@pinet.uni-jena.de
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Amorphous materials Relaxing times for siliconNature Materials News and Views (01 Nov 2004)
RESEARCH
Pressure-induced amorphization and an amorphous?amorphous transition in densified porous siliconNature Letters to Editor (29 Nov 2001)
Vitrification of a monatomic metallic liquidNature Letters to Editor (16 Aug 2007)
The mechanisms for pressure-induced amorphization of ice I hNature Letters to Editor (12 Aug 1999)
A density-driven phase transition between semiconducting and metallic polyamorphs of siliconNature Materials Letter (01 Sep 2005)