Boroxol Rings in Liquid and Vitreous B2O3 from First Principles

We investigate the structural and vibrational properties of glassy B₂O₃ using first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, we determine the boroxol rings fraction f for which there is still no consensus in the literature. Two numerical models containing either a low or a high level of boroxol rings are tested against a gamut of experimental probes (static structure factor, Raman, B11 and O17 NMR data). We show that only the boroxol-rich model (f=75%) can reproduce the full set of observables. Total-energy calculations show that at the glass density, boroxol-rich structures are favored by about 6kcal/(molboroxol). Finally, the liquid state is explored in the 2000 4000 K range and a reduction of f to 10% 20% is obtained.