Atomistic computer simulations of water interactions and dissolution of inorganic glasses

Abstract Computer simulations at the atomistic scale play an increasing important role in understanding the structure features, and the structure–property relationships of glass and amorphous materials. In this paper, we reviewed atomistic simulation methods ranging from first principles calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations, to classical molecular dynamics (MD), and meso-scale kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations and their applications to study the reactions and interactions of inorganic glasses with water and the dissolution behaviors of inorganic glasses. Particularly, the use of these simulation methods in understanding the reaction mechanisms of water with oxide glasses, water–glass interfaces, hydrated porous silica gels formation, the structure and properties of multicomponent glasses, and microstructure evolution are reviewed. The advantages and disadvantageous of these simulation methods are discussed and the current challenges and future direction of atomistic simulations in glass dissolution presented.