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Related Concept Videos

Structures of Solids02:22

Structures of Solids

14.3K
Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...
14.3K
Lattice Centering and Coordination Number02:33

Lattice Centering and Coordination Number

9.7K
The structure of a crystalline solid, whether a metal or not, is best described by considering its simplest repeating unit, which is referred to as its unit cell. The unit cell consists of lattice points that represent the locations of atoms or ions. The entire structure then consists of this unit cell repeating in three dimensions. The three different types of unit cells present in the cubic lattice are illustrated in Figure 1.
Types of Unit Cells
Imagine taking a large number of identical...
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Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

2.9K
Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
2.9K
X-ray Crystallography02:18

X-ray Crystallography

24.0K
The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
24.0K
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes02:58

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

26.9K
Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
26.9K
Metallic Solids02:37

Metallic Solids

18.5K
Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
18.5K

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Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
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Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses

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Designing disorder into crystalline materials.

Arkadiy Simonov1,2, Andrew L Goodwin3

  • 1Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.

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Disordered crystals offer unique functional properties by exploiting correlated disorder patterns. Frontier research focuses on controlling these patterns for novel applications in advanced materials.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Solid-State Physics
  • Crystallography

Background:

  • Crystals exhibit periodic order but often contain various forms of disorder.
  • Disorder in crystalline materials can involve composition, atomic positions, bonding, and electronic or magnetic structures.
  • Correlated disorder, rather than random, presents opportunities for novel material functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review design principles for controlling correlated disorder in crystalline materials.
  • To demonstrate the application of these principles across diverse material classes.
  • To explore the link between disorder and function in emergent technologies.

Main Methods:

  • Survey of existing research and design strategies for disordered crystals.
  • Analysis of statistical mechanical models informing disorder control.
  • Case studies across organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials.

Main Results:

  • Identified core design principles for targeted control of correlated disorder.
  • Demonstrated broad applicability of these principles in organics, ceramics, and metal-organic frameworks.
  • Highlighted the potential of disordered states for advanced functionalities.

Conclusions:

  • Control over correlated disorder is key to unlocking new material properties.
  • Disordered crystals offer pathways to enhanced responsive media, thermoelectrics, and topological phases.
  • Future research should focus on exploiting disorder-function relationships for technological innovation.