Amorphous and crystalline oxides

[darkelf]

Can anyone explain the difference between amorphous and crystalline oxides.
I've tried google but can't find anything useful. I'm guessing that crystalline oxides should have a crystalline structure and as such crystalline properties. Would that be right?

 

[Astronuc]

Can anyone explain the difference between amorphous and crystalline oxides.
I've tried google but can't find anything useful. I'm guessing that crystalline oxides should have a crystalline structure and as such crystalline properties. Would that be right?

That's pretty much it. Crystalline oxides have a regular lattice structure, whereas amorphous have no regular lattice structure, or regularly ordered array of anions and cations. Glasses tend to be amorphous, while ceramics have a crystalline structure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphous_solid
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/Glass/glass.html

The Physics of Amorphous Solids By Richard Zallen

 

[oswaler]

Yes, you are correct. Amorphous oxides have a disordered or non-crystalline structure, meaning the atoms are not arranged in a repeating pattern. This results in a lack of long-range order and properties such as transparency, hardness, and electrical conductivity can vary throughout the material. On the other hand, crystalline oxides have a highly ordered and repeating 3D structure, giving them distinct physical and chemical properties. These properties are determined by the arrangement of atoms and the type of bonding between them. Additionally, the crystalline structure allows for the formation of distinct crystal faces, which can affect the material's surface properties. Understanding the difference between amorphous and crystalline oxides is important in various fields such as materials science, geology, and biochemistry, as it can greatly impact the functionality and behavior of these materials.