Pile-up transmission and reflection of topological defects at grain boundaries in colloidal crystals

Xin Cao, Emanuele Panizon, Andrea Vanossi, Nicola Manini, Erio Tosatti and Clemens Bechinger ()
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Xin Cao: Universität Konstanz
Emanuele Panizon: Universität Konstanz
Andrea Vanossi: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)
Nicola Manini: Università degli Studi di Milano
Erio Tosatti: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)
Clemens Bechinger: Universität Konstanz

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Crystalline solids typically contain large amounts of defects such as dislocations and interstitials. How they travel across grain boundaries (GBs) under external stress is crucial to understand the mechanical properties of polycrystalline materials. Here, we experimentally and theoretically investigate with single-particle resolution how the atomic structure of GBs affects the dynamics of interstitial defects driven across monolayer colloidal polycrystals. Owing to the complex inherent GB structure, we observe a rich dynamical behavior of defects near GBs. Below a critical driving force defects cannot cross GBs, resulting in their accumulation near these locations. Under certain conditions, defects are reflected at GBs, leading to their enrichment at specific regions within polycrystals. The channeling of defects within samples of specifically-designed GB structures opens up the possibility to design novel materials that are able to confine the spread of damage to certain regions.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16870-w

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