The Role of Defects
While most structural and functional
materials are crystalline, many of their
properties (e.g. mechanical strength,
electrical conductivity, corrosion
resistance) are actually determined by
defects – deviations
from the ideal crystal structure. This
includes point-, line-, and planar defects,
internal interfaces, and surfaces. For
understanding and controlling materials
properties, therefore, it is essential to
investigate their defect population, known
as the "microstructure." The
microscopy and microanalysis facility in
the Swagelok Center for Surface Analysis of
Materials (SCSAM) at Case provides superior
tools for studying materials at the
microscopic level, including
state-of-the-art transmission electron
microscopy (TEM).
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 - Atomic-resolution TEM image of a
precious-metal fuel cell catalyst
nanoparticle. The particle is supported
by amorphous carbon (lower
right).
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