In a surprising development, scientists discovered a new liquid phase. The new state of matter has been discovered by examining the development of super dense glass. These types of glass have a variety of uses, including in OLED displays and optical fibers. However, they do tend to be unstable. This new material has been discovered as a result of attempts to solve existing problems.
The newly discovered phase of matter promises a more stable and dense form of glass. According to physicist Zahra Fakhraai, interesting properties can in fact emerge in thin films, and scientists wouldn’t have thought of that before.
Researchers spent years developing methods to test that vapor deposition would actually reduce the liquid-like properties of thin glass. When producing the new type of glass and cooling it, scientists noticed that it didn’t turn into ordinary liquid – instead, it turned into a special kind of liquid.
Tests showed that individual molecules were compacted into a configuration that was not a crystal but something else. The scientists claim there may be ramifications for different kinds depending upon the geometry of the phase. The researchers’ aim is that a better knowledge of the fundamentals will lead to new applications and a better capacity to build thin-film glasses with comparable enhanced characteristics.
Further studies are planned to establish the relationship between physical properties in the deposition phase and how it affects aspects such as mechanical strength, viscosity and thermal conductivity. Importantly, the newfound liquid phase offers thinner glass which is more secure and dense compared to previous materials.
“Our hope is that this fundamental understanding motivates more applications and a better ability to design thin film glasses with similarly improved properties. If the structure-property relationships are understood in thin films, we can do better by design,” concludes Fakhraai
