Structure of partially reduced bismuth-silicate glasses: EXAFS and MD study

In the paper we have studied the short- and medium-range order structure of partially modified (reduced) bismuth-silicate glasses using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The obtained results suggest that glasses of low bismuth oxide concentration are more susceptible to the reduction process than bismuth-rich glasses. We have also shown that a comparative usage of EXAFS and MD methods is very useful in investigations of metallic nanostructures embedded in a glassy matrix.