Partial structures in molten AgBr

The structure of molten AgBr has been studied by means of neutron and X-ray diffractions with the aid of structural modeling. It is confirmed that the Ag–Ag correlation has a small but well-defined first peak in the partial pair distribution function whose tail penetrates into the Ag–Br nearest neighbor distribution. This feature on the Ag–Ag correlation is intermediate between that of molten AgCl (non-superionic melt) and that of molten AgI (superionic melt). The analysis of Br–Ag–Br bond angle reveals that molten AgBr preserves a rocksalt type local ordering in the solid phase, suggesting that molten AgBr is clarified as non-superionic melt like molten AgCl.