Comparison of partial structures of melts of superionic AgI and CuI and non-superionic AgCl

Intermediate-range chemical ordering of cations in molten RbCl-AgCl

A first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP) is observed in the X-ray total structure factor of a molten mixture of RbCl-AgCl, while both pure melts of RbCl and AgCl do not exhibit FSDP individually. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the origin of the FSDP with the polarizable ion model (PIM). Coexistence of covalent Ag-Cl and ionic Rb-Cl bonds leads the system to evolve intermediate range ordering, which is simulated by introducing the induced polarization in different ways between Ag-Cl with fully polarizable treatment based on Vashishta-Raman potential and Rb-Cl with suppression over-polarization in the nearest neighbor contribution based on Born-Meyer potential. The partial structure factors for both the Ag-Ag and Rb-Rb correlations, SAgAg(Q) and SRbRb(Q), show a positive contribution to the FSDP, while SAgRb(Q) for the Ag-Rb correlation exhibits a negative contribution, indicating that Ag and Rb ions are distributed in an alternating manner within the intermediate-range length scale. The origin of the intermediate-range chemical ordering of cations can be ascribed to the preferred direction of the dipole moments of anions in the PIM.

Superionic behavior in polyethylene-oxide-based single-ion conductors

We demonstrate superionic ion conduction in simulations of a poly(ethylene oxide)-based polymer electrolyte. The superionic conduction uses cation hopping via chain-like ion aggregates, enabling long-range charge transfer while ions only move locally. The Na single-ion conductor achieves two essential features of superionic metal ion conductors: one-dimensional ion structure and immobile anions. The superionic conduction depends on the number and length of conduction pathways, the conduction pathway lifetime, and the rate at which end ions join and leave the pathway.

A Review of High-Energy X-Ray Diffraction from Glasses and Liquids

This paper summarizes the scientific trends associated with the rapid development of the technique of high-energy X-ray diffraction over the past decade pertaining to the field of liquids, glasses, and amorphous materials. The measurement of high-quality X-ray structure factors out to large momentum transfers leads to high-resolution pair distribution functions which can be directly compared to theory or combined with data from other experimental techniques. The advantages of combining highly penetrating radiation with low angle scattering are outlined together with the data analysis procedure and formalism. Also included are advances in high-energy synchrotron beamline instrumentation, sample environment equipment, and an overview of the role of simulation and modeling for interpreting data from disordered materials. Several examples of recent trends in glass and liquid research are described. Finally, directions for future research are considered within the context of past and current developments in the field.

Medium-range correlation of Ag ions in superionic melts of Ag2Se and AgI by reverse Monte Carlo structural modelling-connectivity and void distribution

High-energy x-ray diffraction measurements on molten Ag(2)Se were performed. Partial structure factors and radial distribution functions were deduced by reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) structural modelling on the basis of our new x-ray and earlier published neutron diffraction data. These partial functions were compared with those of molten AgI. Both AgI and Ag(2)Se have a superionic solid phase prior to melting. New RMC structural modelling for molten AgI was performed to revise our previous model with a bond-angle restriction to reduce the number of unphysical Ag triangles. The refined model of molten AgI revealed that isolated unbranched chains formed by Ag ions are the cause of the medium-range order of Ag. In contrast with molten AgI, molten Ag(2)Se has 'cage-like' structures with approximately seven Ag ions surrounding a Se ion. Connectivity analysis revealed that most of the Ag ions in molten Ag(2)Se are located within 2.9 Å of each other and only small voids are found, which is in contrast to the wide distribution of Ag-void radii in molten AgI. It is conjectured that the collective motion of Ag ions through small voids is required to realize the well-known fast diffusion of Ag ions in molten Ag(2)Se, which is comparable to that in molten AgI.

Diffusion within α-CuI studied using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

The structure and dynamics of superionic α-CuI are studied in detail by means of ab initio Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations. The extreme cation disorder and a soft immobile face centred cubic sublattice are evident from the highly diffuse atomic density profiles. The Cu-Cu pair distribution function and distribution of Cu-I-Cu bond angles possess distinct peaks at 2.6 Å and 60° respectively, which are markedly lower than the values expected from the average cationic density, pointing to the presence of pronounced short-range copper-copper correlations. Comparison with lattice static calculations shows that these correlations and the marked shift in the cationic density profile in the ⟨111⟩ directions are associated with a locally distorted cation sublattice, and that the movements within the tetrahedral cavities involve rapid jumps into and out of shallow basins on the system potential energy surface. On average, the iodines are surrounded by three coppers within their first coordination shell, with the fourth copper being located in a transition zone between two neighbouring iodine cavities. However, time-resolved analysis reveals that the local structure actually involves a mixture of threefold-, fourfold- and fivefold-coordinated iodines. Examination of the ionic trajectories shows that the copper ions jump rapidly to nearest neighbouring tetrahedral cavities (aligned in the ⟨100⟩ directions) following a markedly curved trajectory and often involving short-lived (∼1 ps) interstitial positions. The nature of the correlated diffusion underlying the unusually high fraction of coppers with short residence time can be attributed to the presence of a large number of 'unsuccessful' jumps and the likelihood of cooperative motion of pairs of coppers. The calculated diffusion coefficient at 750 K, D(Cu) = 2.8 × 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1), is in excellent agreement with that found experimentally.

The structure of molten CuCl, CuI and their mixtures as investigated by using neutron diffraction

The structure of molten CuCl, CuI and their mixtures (CuCl)(x)(CuI)(1-x) with x = 0.294, 0.576, 0.801 was studied by using neutron diffraction. The results are discussed by reference to the information that is available on the structure of CuCl and CuI from experiment, theory and computer simulation. The comparison points to a need for more realistic models for the CuCl-CuI system which should take into account the presence of chemical bonds that have been found in CuI by the application of ab initio molecular dynamics methods.