Engineering defects could transform the future of nanomaterials
An intricate model of the research
Researchers can now design materials where different sections have dramatically different defect densities and types, potentially leading to new functionalities. Photo provided by The Mkhoyan Lab

Materials scientists at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have found a way to create and control tiny “flaws” inside ultra-thin materials. These internal features, known as extended defects, could give next-generation nanomaterials entirely new properties, opening the door to advances in nanotechnology.

The study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrated that patterned regions of the material could achieve a density of extended defects—atomic-scale disruptions in the crystal lattice—up to 1,000 times higher than in unpatterned areas.

“These extended defects are exciting because they span the entire material but occupy a very small volume,” said Andre Mkhoyan, a professor in the University of Minnesota Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and senior author of the study. “By carefully controlling these tiny features, we can leverage the properties of both the defect and the surrounding material.”

Read the full story at the College of Science and Engineering's website.

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