Consequences of sp 2 –sp 3 boron isomerization in supercooled liquid borates
In this study, time-resolved high-energy synchrotron x-ray total scattering measurements on supercooled molten lithium metaborate (LiBO 2 ) reveal an isomerization reaction involving conversion of trigonal sp 2 boron to tetrahedral sp 3 boron during quenching and glass formation. Van't Hoff analysis yields an accurate enthalpy change, ΔH = 21(1) kJ mol –1 boron, from which we develop an analytical model for the sp 3 isomer fraction and its contribution to configurational heat capacity (C p conf ) and entropy as a function of temperature and composition. Isomerization constitutes 40% of the total calorimetric C p conf at the glass transition for LiBO 2 and directly contributes to the observed rise in liquid fragility with the lithium content.