Microscopic mechanisms of pressure-induced amorphous-amorphous transitions and crystallisation in silicon

Some low-coordination materials, including water, silica, and silicon, exhibit polyamorphism, having multiple amorphous forms. However, the microscopic mechanism and kinetic pathway of amorphous-amorphous transition (AAT) remain largely unknown. Here, we use a state-of-the-art machine-learning potential and local structural analysis to investigate the microscopic kinetics of AAT in silicon after a rapid pressure change. We find that the transition from low-density-amorphous (LDA) to high-density-amorphous (HDA) occurs through nucleation and growth, resulting in non-spherical interfaces that underscore the mechanical nature of AAT. In contrast, the reverse transition occurs through spinodal decomposition. Further pressurisation transforms LDA into very-high-density amorphous (VHDA), with HDA serving as an intermediate state. Notably, the final amorphous states are inherently unstable, transitioning into crystals. Our findings demonstrate that AAT and crystallisation are driven by joint thermodynamic and mechanical instabilities, assisted by preordering, occurring without diffusion. This unique mechanical and diffusion-less nature distinguishes AAT from liquid-liquid transitions.