The crystal-glass transition has been studied in the past mainly via x-ray or neutron scattering and theoretical modelling of correlation functions. We have developed an approach to prepare thin silica and bi-layer films on metal supports which are prone to investigation with scanning tunneling microscopy and were able in the past to verify for the first time1 William Zachariasen’s proposal for the structure of amorphous silica from 1932.2 Detailed statistical analysis of the structural features shows strong correlation with the expectations for three-dimensional amorphous silica. Here we present and discuss results for germania bi-layer films and are able to catch some of the characteristic differences between the two materials, i.e. silica and germania previously deduced from bulk material studies.3

From crystals to glasses at the atomic level in real space

2019 Fall National Meeting

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