Schottky defect

crystallography

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July 13, 2026

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A Schottky defect is a type of imperfection in a crystal lattice. It occurs when ions are removed from their normal positions within the crystal structure and move to the crystal's surface. Specifically, in a Schottky defect, two ions of opposite charges leave the lattice. This phenomenon was first observed by German physicist Walter Schottky in 1935. These defects, along with others like Frenkel defects and impurity defects, can significantly influence a solid's mechanical, electrical, and optical properties.123

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crystal defect
In the Schottky defect, two ions of opposite sign leave the lattice. Impurity defects are foreign atoms that replace some of the atoms making up the solid or that squeeze into the interstices; they are important in the electrical behavior of semiconductors, which are materials used in…
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In the Schottky defect, two ions of opposite sign leave the lattice. Impurity defects are foreign atoms that replace some of the atoms making up the solid or that squeeze into the interstices; they are important in the electrical behavior of semiconductors, which are materials used in…
Read More

vacancy
In the so-called Schottky defect, an atom moves from the inside of the crystal to its surface, leaving behind an isolated vacancy. In the Frenkel defect, an atom moves to a new position between other atoms of the solid. The empty space created by the migration of the…
Read More
In the so-called Schottky defect, an atom moves from the inside of the crystal to its surface, leaving behind an isolated vacancy. In the Frenkel defect, an atom moves to a new position between other atoms of the solid. The empty space created by the migration of the…
Read More