Rearrangement of the structure during nucleation of a cordierite glass doped with TiO2

TL;DR

This study investigates the nucleation process in TiO2-doped cordierite glass, revealing structural reorganization during crystal formation using neutron scattering and NMR, which enhances understanding of nucleation mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides experimental insights into the structural changes during nucleation in TiO2-doped cordierite glass, addressing the challenge of characterizing critical clusters.

Findings

Structural reorganization around Ti atoms during nucleation

Identification of critical clusters via neutron scattering and NMR

Evidence of matrix restructuring during crystal formation

Abstract

Ordering of disordered materials occurs during the activated process of nucleation that requires the formation of critical clusters that have to surmount a thermodynamic barrier. The characterization of these clusters is experimentally challenging but mandatory to improve nucleation theory. In this paper, the nucleation of a magnesium aluminosilicate glass containing the nucleating oxide TiO2 is investigated using neutron scattering with Ti isotopic substitution and 27Al NMR. We identified the structural changes induced by the formation of crystals around Ti atoms and evidenced important structural reorganization of the glassy matrix.