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Experimental evidence of new tetragonal polymorphs of silicon formed through ultrafast laser-induced confined microexplosion

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  • L. Rapp

    (Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University
    Present address: Département d'Optique P. M. Duffieux, FEMTO-ST Institute, University of Franche-Comte UMR CNRS, BESANCON F-25030, France)

  • B. Haberl

    (Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University
    Present address: Chemical and Engineering Materials Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA)

  • C.J. Pickard

    (University College London)

  • J.E. Bradby

    (Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University)

  • E.G. Gamaly

    (Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University)

  • J.S. Williams

    (Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University)

  • A.V. Rode

    (Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University)

Abstract

Ordinary materials can transform into novel phases at extraordinary high pressure and temperature. The recently developed method of ultrashort laser-induced confined microexplosions initiates a non-equilibrium disordered plasma state. Ultra-high quenching rates overcome kinetic barriers to the formation of new metastable phases, which are preserved in the surrounding pristine crystal for subsequent exploitation. Here we demonstrate that confined microexplosions in silicon produce several metastable end phases. Comparison with an ab initio random structure search reveals six energetically competitive potential phases, four tetragonal and two monoclinic structures. We show the presence of bt8 and st12, which have been predicted theoretically previously, but have not been observed in nature or in laboratory experiments. In addition, the presence of the as yet unidentified silicon phase, Si-VIII and two of our other predicted tetragonal phases are highly likely within laser-affected zones. These findings may pave the way for new materials with novel and exotic properties.

Suggested Citation

  • L. Rapp & B. Haberl & C.J. Pickard & J.E. Bradby & E.G. Gamaly & J.S. Williams & A.V. Rode, 2015. "Experimental evidence of new tetragonal polymorphs of silicon formed through ultrafast laser-induced confined microexplosion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8555
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8555
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    Cited by:

    1. Silvia Pandolfi & S. Brennan Brown & P. G. Stubley & Andrew Higginbotham & C. A. Bolme & H. J. Lee & B. Nagler & E. Galtier & R. L. Sandberg & W. Yang & W. L. Mao & J. S. Wark & A. E. Gleason, 2022. "Atomistic deformation mechanism of silicon under laser-driven shock compression," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.

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