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Metallic Solids

Metallic Solids

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....

Bonding in Metals

Bonding in Metals

Metallic bonds are formed between two metal atoms. A simplified model to describe metallic bonding has been developed by Paul Drüde called the “Electron Sea Model”.

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Schottky barriers arise when a metal with a work function (Φm) contacts a semiconductor with a different work function (Φs). Initially, electrons transfer until the Fermi levels of the metal and semiconductor align at equilibrium. For instance, if Φm > Φs, the semiconductor Fermi level is higher than the metal's before contact. The...

Saint-Venant's Principle

Saint-Venant's Principle

The principle of Saint-Venant postulates that the stress distribution within a structural member does not rely on the precise method of load application except in the vicinity of the load application points. Consider a scenario where loads are centrally applied on two plates. In this case, the plates move toward each other without any rotation. This movement causes the member to contract in length and expand in width and thickness. Uniform deformation across all elements and maintaining...

Properties of Transition Metals

Properties of Transition Metals

Transition metals are defined as those elements that have partially filled d orbitals. As shown in Figure 1, the d-block elements in groups 3–12 are transition elements. The f-block elements, also called inner transition metals (the lanthanides and actinides), also meet this criterion because the d orbital is partially occupied before the f orbitals.

Theory of Metallic Conduction

Theory of Metallic Conduction

The conduction of free electrons inside a conductor is best described by quantum mechanics. However, a classical model makes predictions close to the results of quantum mechanics. It is called the theory of metallic conduction.
In this theory, Newton's second law of motion is used to determine the acceleration of an electron in the presence of an applied electric field. Then, its velocity is expressed via this acceleration.
An electron moves through the crystal, containing positive ions,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Co-localizing Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy with Other Microscopies and Spectroscopies: Selected Applications in Corrosion Characterization of Alloys

Co-localizing Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy with Other Microscopies and Spectroscopies: Selected Applications in Corrosion Characterization of Alloys

Published on: June 27, 2022

Minimizing the diffusivity difference between vacancies and interstitials in multi-principal element alloys.

Bozhao Zhang¹, Zhen Zhang^1,2, Kaihui Xun¹

¹Center for Alloy Innovation and Design, State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|January 24, 2024

Summary

Researchers found a way to make interstitial atoms and vacancies move at similar speeds in metals. This discovery improves radiation tolerance by helping defects annihilate, reducing swelling and void formation.

Keywords:

diffusivity irradiation tolerance local distortion multi-principal element alloy point defects

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Last Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Co-localizing Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy with Other Microscopies and Spectroscopies: Selected Applications in Corrosion Characterization of Alloys

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Quantitative Atomic-Site Analysis of Functional Dopants/Point Defects in Crystalline Materials by Electron-Channeling-Enhanced Microanalysis

Quantitative Atomic-Site Analysis of Functional Dopants/Point Defects in Crystalline Materials by Electron-Channeling-Enhanced Microanalysis

Published on: May 10, 2021

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Computational Materials Science

Background:

Interstitial atoms typically diffuse faster than vacancies in metals, hindering point defect recombination under irradiation.
This diffusion imbalance is a primary cause of ineffective defect annihilation, leading to material degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate an alloy design strategy for equalizing interstitial and vacancy diffusion in NiCoCrFe(Pd) alloys.
To understand the atomic-scale mechanisms governing defect diffusion in multi-component alloys.

Main Methods:

Utilizing ab initio modeling to simulate single-defect diffusion behavior.
Analyzing the impact of atomic size disparity on diffusion activation energy barriers.

Main Results:

Substituting NiCoCrFe with Palladium (Pd) significantly reduces the diffusivity difference between interstitial atoms and vacancies.
Palladium's larger atomic size narrows diffusion channels for interstitials, increasing their activation energy (E).
Simultaneously, Palladium reduces E for vacancies by accommodating bond length changes more easily.

Conclusions:

Atomic size disparity can be leveraged to manipulate point defect dynamics.
This strategy facilitates defect annihilation, suppressing void formation and swelling.
The findings offer a pathway to enhance the radiation tolerance of metallic materials.