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Atomic structure dictates the performance of all material systems; characteristic of disordered materials is the significance of spatial and temporal fluctuations (derivations of the atomic structure in space and time) on structure-property-performance relationships. Glass’s nonequilibrium, noncrystalline, and nonergodic nature induces localized distributions in physical properties that are conventionally defined by average values; however, in practice, glasses with similar average property values can behave vastly differently.

Our work develops physics-based models to quantify spatial and temporal fluctuations in two- and three-dimensional oxide glasses. Rigorous investigations of fluctuations enable researchers to improve fundamental understanding of the chemistry and physics governing glass-forming systems and optimize structure-property-performance relationships for next-generation technological applications of glass, including damage-resistant electronic displays, safer pharmaceutical vials to store and transport vaccines, and lower-attenuation fiber optics. Processing parameters such as composition, temperature, pressure impact fluctuation formation. Ongoing work is investigating thin film glasses and the potential to manipulate fluctuations formation with changing dimensionality.

We invite you to join us in exploring what can be discovered by going beyond the average understanding of glass-forming systems.

Katelyn A. Kirchner

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

The Pennsylvania State University, USA

kak6117@psu.edu

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Chemical Reviews article