Structure-topology-property correlations of sodium phosphosilicate glasses

In this work, we investigate the correlations among structure, topology, and properties in a series of sodium phosphosilicate glasses with [SiO₂]/[SiO₂ + P₂O₅] ranging from 0 to 1. The network structure is characterized by ²⁹Si and ³¹P magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance and Raman spectroscopy. The results show the formation of six-fold coordinated silicon species in phosphorous-rich glasses. Based on the structural data, we propose a formation mechanism of the six-fold coordinated silicon, which is used to develop a quantitative structural model for predicting the speciation of the network forming units as a function of chemical composition. The structural model is then used to establish a temperature-dependent constraint description of phosphosilicate glass topology that enables prediction of glass transition temperature, liquid fragility, and indentation hardness. The topological constraint model provides insight into structural origin of the mixed network former effect in phosphosilicate glasses.