Layering transition in confined silicon

The structure of quasi-2D liquid silicon confined to slit nanopores has been investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. An obvious structural change from a low-density low-coordinated liquid to a high-density highly coordinated liquid has been found in the confined silicon with the increase of the slit size. This kind of structural transition results from layering in the confined silicon, which disappears with the increase of temperature. In the process of layering transition, the coordination distribution of quasi-2D liquid undergoes an evolutionary process from the initial non-uniform distribution to the final uniform distribution. In addition, our results also indicate that the increase of pressure will also induce a layering transition in the confined silicon.