Kristalldefekt

Kristalldefekt refers to any deviation from the perfect, ordered atomic arrangement in a crystal lattice. These imperfections are ubiquitous in real crystals and significantly influence their physical properties, including mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and optical behavior. Despite the name, these defects are not necessarily flaws but are often essential for technological applications.

There are several classifications of crystal defects. Point defects involve local disruptions of the lattice, such as vacancies (missing atoms), interstitials (atoms in positions not normally occupied by them), and substitutional impurities (foreign atoms replacing host atoms). Line defects, also known as dislocations, are one-dimensional defects characterized by a disruption in the regular arrangement of atoms along a line. These are crucial for understanding plastic deformation in metals. Surface defects, or planar defects, are two-dimensional imperfections that occur at grain boundaries, stacking faults, or twin boundaries, separating regions of different crystal orientation.

The presence and type of crystal defects can be controlled during crystal growth or introduced through subsequent processing. Understanding and manipulating these defects are fundamental to materials science, enabling the design of materials with tailored properties for diverse applications, from semiconductors and catalysts to structural components.