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    Molecular dynamics study of the impact of coordination number on the thermal conductivity of amorphous Ga2O3

    Youtian Li1,2, Yangyu Guo1,2, Haiping Lin3, Shiyun Xiong4,*, and Hongliang Yi1,2,†

    • 1School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China
    • 2Key Laboratory of Aerospace Thermophysics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, People's Republic of China
    • 3School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Shaanxi 710119, People's Republic of China
    • 4Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Materials and Energy Storage Devices, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China

    • *Contact author: syxiong@gdut.edu.cn
    • †Contact author: yihongliang@hit.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. B 112, 184111 – Published 17 November, 2025

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/d8lh-jf5y

    Abstract

    Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) has emerged as a promising ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor for next-generation power electronics and optoelectronic devices. However, the thermal transport properties of Ga2O3, particularly in its amorphous state, remain poorly understood, even though they are critically important for device reliability. In this work, we employed molecular dynamics simulations with a machine-learned neuroevolution potential (NEP) to investigate the structure-thermal property relationship between structure and thermal properties in a−Ga2O3 across a comprehensive density range (3.5–8.0g/cm3). Through systematic analysis of radial distribution functions, angular distributions, and coordination environments, we identify two distinct structural transitions at 5.25g/cm3 and 6.50g/cm3, corresponding to the progressive transformation of Ga coordination from fourfold to sixfold coordination and O coordination from threefold to fourfold. Homogeneous nonequilibrium MD simulations coupled with spectral heat current analysis reveal that these structural changes induce sharp enhancements in thermal conductivity, mediated through simultaneous improvements in both propagons and diffusons. The increase in atomic coordination creates more direct atomic pathways while strengthening interatomic coupling, ultimately enabling a sixfold increase in thermal conductivity across the studied density range. Our findings establish fundamental structure-property relationships in a−Ga2O3 and suggest general design principles for thermal management in amorphous semiconductors undergoing coordination polyhedral transitions.

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