Interstitial defect

<p>In <a href="/facts/Materials_science/N5HrXRYW">materials science</a>, an interstitial defect is a type of point <a href="/facts/Crystallographic_defect/LHJymDro">crystallographic defect</a> where an <a href="/facts/Atom/FoQ4kGN5">atom</a> of the same or of a different type, occupies an <a href="/facts/Interstitial_site/3kvKwQer">interstitial site</a> in the <a href="/facts/Crystal_structure/bJ4bCeHd">crystal structure</a>. When the atom is of the same type as those already present they are known as a self-interstitial defect. Alternatively, small atoms in some <a href="/facts/Crystal/e2R2mk3E">crystals</a> may occupy interstitial sites, such as <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">hydrogen</a> in <a href="/facts/Palladium/AXMwDFxs">palladium</a>. Interstitials can be produced by bombarding a crystal with <a href="/facts/Elementary_particle/CTFDM97U">elementary particles</a> having energy above the <a href="/facts/Threshold_displacement_energy/z20BKqHI">displacement threshold</a> for that crystal, but they may also exist in small concentrations in <a href="/facts/Thermodynamic_equilibrium/1D7nGm0d">thermodynamic equilibrium</a>. The presence of interstitial defects can modify the physical and chemical properties of a material.
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Interstitial defect open-in-new

Interstitial defect