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Revisiting point defects in ionic solids and semiconductors

Nature Materials volume 22, pages 794–797 (2023)Cite this article

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The study of point defects in non-metallic crystals has become relevant for an increasing number of materials applications. Progress requires a foundation of consistent definitions and terminology. This Comment clarifies the underlying definitions of point defects, encourages the correct use of relative charge for their description and emphasizes their recognition as quasiparticles.

To the layman and to the newcomer, the word ‘defect’ has only unpleasant connotations. Defects are bad, always undesirable. If unavoidable, their number should be minimized. To those who study defects in crystals, however, the word has various connotations. In some cases, defects are detrimental, but in many others, they are beneficial or even essential, imparting function to ‘functional’ materials. The layman’s reductive standpoint of ‘bad’ defects is thus replaced by the defect scientist’s detailed, nuanced picture of detrimental or useful defects.

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Fig. 1: Describing point defects with real charge or relative charge.
Fig. 2: Describing point-defect reactions with real charge or relative charge.

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Acknowledgements

R.D.S. acknowledges discussions with K. Rushchanskii. R.D.S. gratefully acknowledges support from the DFG (German Research Foundation) within the framework of the collaborative research centre ‘Nanoswitches’ (SFB 917) and within the Priority Programme ‘FieldsMatter’ (SPP1959) under project DE 2854/9-2. G.H. gratefully acknowledges funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement number [101031819 - OPTICS].

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  1. George Harrington

    Present address: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK

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  1. Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Roger De Souza & George Harrington

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  1. Roger De Souza
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Correspondence to Roger De Souza.

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Nature Materials thanks Harry Tuller and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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De Souza, R., Harrington, G. Revisiting point defects in ionic solids and semiconductors. Nat. Mater. 22, 794–797 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-023-01583-4

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