| Abstract Scope |
Defects determine and control properties of solid-state materials and to a large degree impart specific functionalities. E.g. kinetics of ionic transport fundamentally limits the performance, efficiency and operating conditions of almost all known renewable energy technologies; Creation and motion of defects can trigger concomitant ‘switchable’ metal-insulator, structural and magnetic phase-transitions showing coupled hysterics for Neuromorphic computing; Defects and interfaces can be used to modify topology of a solid leading to emergent new quantum-phases (say) for dissipationless, low-power quantum-transport, in topological quantum materials or can play the ugly role of quenching emergent topological properties. The challenge lies both in identifying relevant defects, accurately capturing their fundamental nature and influence on material functionality and using this knowledge to design improved materials, using state-of-the-art computational materials approaches, integrated with complimentary data-analytics as well as experimental capabilities. In this talk, I will attempt to highlight some of our recent activities in addressing this challenge. |