Study of beyond nearest-neighbor environment and intermediate-range order in a sodium aluminosilicate geopolymer using Reverse Monte Carlo modeling


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Arca S., Benmore C. J., SOYER UZUN S.

Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, cilt.613, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 613
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2023.122377
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: High-energy XRD, Intermediate-range order, Ring size distribution, RMC modeling
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

A large scale three-dimensional structural model of a geopolymer with an approximate composition of NaAlSi2O6.5.5H2O obtained by Reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) modeling based on experimental high-energy x-ray diffraction is presented for the first time in order to obtain information regarding beyond nearest-neighbor environment and intermediate-range order (IRO). RMC model exhibits a three-dimensional network consisting of randomly cross-linked AlO4 and SiO4 tetrahedral units with uniformly distributed Na atoms and H2O molecules. The bond angle distributions, i.e. T-O-T, O-T-O and Na-O-Na angles, are somewhat distorted with lower values compared to analogous crystal systems. The origin of the first peak in the structure factor indicating IRO is investigated using the partial structure factors; Na-Na, Si-Na, Al-Si, O-H, and H-H atom pairs are found to be the main contributors. Ring size distribution analysis demonstrates that the structure mainly involves 6-, 7- and 8-membered rings. The coherence length of these IRO characteristics is ∼10.3 Å.