MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS SIMULATIONS OF NA2SI4O9 LIQUID AT HIGH-PRESSURE

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to investigate the struct ural and transport properties of Na2Si4O9 liquid as a function of pres sure. Simulations were performed at 6000 K at a variety of pressures, ranging from 1 atm to 100 GPa. The calculated oxygen self-diffusivity increases with increasing pressure, up to approximately 10-15 GPa, as found in previous simulations and experimental studies. Above this pre ssure, the O2- diffusivity decreases slightly with increasing pressure . From the MD results, we distinguish two distinct mechanisms for the pressure-induced coordination change of silicon. The first, occurring in the lower pressure regime, below 15 GPa, involves formation of Si-[ 5] species via a reaction with the nonbridging oxygen atoms. The secon d mechanism occurs at high pressures via a reaction of the bridging ox ygen atoms and results in the formation of O-[3] species.