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Main Authors: Thapa, R., Mustermann, E., Jain, H., Dierolf, V., McKenzie, M. E.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.09807
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author Thapa, R.
Mustermann, E.
Jain, H.
Dierolf, V.
McKenzie, M. E.
author_facet Thapa, R.
Mustermann, E.
Jain, H.
Dierolf, V.
McKenzie, M. E.
contents Rotation of crystal seed during the early stages of growth in a glass matrix has been observed due to some torque, contradicting the expectations from the isotropic, uniform structure of the surrounding amorphous matrix. We establish an atomistic origin of this new phenomenon from molecular dynamics simulations using LiNbO3 and LiNbO3-SiO2 glasses as model systems. Effectively, it arises due to non-uniform forces on the seed from the surrounding glass, which appears inhomogeneous and anisotropic on the scale of glass-crystal interface. The seeded crystal growth (SCG) at higher temperatures amplifies this effect due to enhanced atomic dynamics. Silica, when added to LiNbO3 glass, reduces the crystal growth rate due to increased viscosity and restricted atomic mobility across the growth interface, but has minimal effect on the crystal rotation. These findings challenge a general assumption that glass is an isotropic material, especially during the early stage of its crystallization, and provide insights for tailoring the microstructure of widely used glass-ceramics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_09807
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Rotation of crystal seed during early stages of growth reveals the anisotropy of glass matrix
Thapa, R.
Mustermann, E.
Jain, H.
Dierolf, V.
McKenzie, M. E.
Materials Science
Rotation of crystal seed during the early stages of growth in a glass matrix has been observed due to some torque, contradicting the expectations from the isotropic, uniform structure of the surrounding amorphous matrix. We establish an atomistic origin of this new phenomenon from molecular dynamics simulations using LiNbO3 and LiNbO3-SiO2 glasses as model systems. Effectively, it arises due to non-uniform forces on the seed from the surrounding glass, which appears inhomogeneous and anisotropic on the scale of glass-crystal interface. The seeded crystal growth (SCG) at higher temperatures amplifies this effect due to enhanced atomic dynamics. Silica, when added to LiNbO3 glass, reduces the crystal growth rate due to increased viscosity and restricted atomic mobility across the growth interface, but has minimal effect on the crystal rotation. These findings challenge a general assumption that glass is an isotropic material, especially during the early stage of its crystallization, and provide insights for tailoring the microstructure of widely used glass-ceramics.
title Rotation of crystal seed during early stages of growth reveals the anisotropy of glass matrix
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.09807