The structure of Pb-PbO-SiO2 glass via molecular dynamics simulation

The paper is dedicated to a molecular dynamics (MD) study of the structure of partially reduced lead-silicate glass of composition 1Pb 1PbO 1SiO2. The simulations have been performed in the constant volume regime, using a two-body potential (Born-Mayer repulsive forces, and Coulomb forces due to full ionic charges). The system was initially prepared as a well equilibrated hot melt, and then slowly cooled down to 300K. The information on short-range correlations were obtained in a conventional way (from pair and angular distribution functions), while the medium-range order was studied via cation-anion ring analysis. In the paper, the short- and medium-range order in the simulated system is discussed and compared with the structure of a glassy completely reduced system, i.e. 2Pb 1SiO2 and unreduced one, i.e. 2PbO 1SiO2 glass.