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CuCN: An orientational glass
Journal article

CuCN: An orientational glass

Abstract

Rhombohedral crystal phase of CuCN forms irreversibly on heating a mixture of its orthorhombic and monoclinic phases to 593 K. In its space group, R3m (a=b=0.6026 nm, c=0.4823 nm, α=β=90°, γ =120°, Z=3, V0=0.1516 nm3, and Dx=2.94 g/cm3), positions of C and N atoms are disordered, and therefore orientations of the CN group in the (N-Cu-C) chain structure are random. Its heat capacity increases in the manner of a sigmoid shape over the 350-380 K range, analogous to that observed on kinetic unfreezing of a canonical glass, as does that of a mixture of crystal phases obtained by flocculation process. The CuCN phase appears as the simplest orientational glass whose state is trapped in a deep minimum with a corrugated bottom, and each corrugation corresponding to one configurational excitation.

Authors

Wang J; Collins MF; Johari GP

Journal

Physical Review B Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 65, No. 18, pp. 1801031–1801034

Publication Date

May 1, 2002

ISSN

0163-1829

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