Amorphous subsystems in superionic conductors

Abstract

The paper deals with the question of under what conditions could a liquid-like subsystem in a superionic conductor be prepared in an amorphous or glassy state. An ad hoc identification of cation subsystems† in some silver and copper salts with real liquids and the application of Uhlmann's method of calculation give the critical cooling rates and these are comparable to those of silver and copper melts. Subsystem glasses appear, however, to be stable at lower temperatures.