X-ray diffraction study of the size dependence of pressure-induced structural transformation in amorphous silica nanoparticles

Uchino, Takashi*; Aboshi, Atsuko*; Yamada, Tomoko*; Inamura, Yasuhiro; Katayama, Yoshinori

X-ray diffraction study of nanometer-size amorphous silica particles was carried out at pressures up to 7.4 GPa. An energy dispersive synchrotron radiation technique was used. It was found that silica nanoparticles exhibit pressure-induced structural changes, which eventually lead to a permanent densification. The transformation occurs at much lower pressures than what occurs in a bulk silica glass. A new window for amorphous-amorphous transformation at room temperature is provided by decreasing the size.