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Topological crystalline insulators (TCIs) are a new class of topological materials that possess unique metallic surface states protected by crystalline mirror symmetry. Their topological surface properties are expected to strongly depend on the surface orientation. By combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations and synthesis experiments, we demonstrate the controlled growth of single crystalline nanostructures of the prototypical TCI SnTe with distinct facets and morphologies. Our calculations suggest that the excess energy of the {111} surfaces can be either higher or lower than that of the {100} surfaces, depending on the stoichiometry, while the {110} is always higher than the {100}. In our synthesis experiment, we qualitatively controlled the stoichiometry by tailoring the growth temperature and obtained two types of single crystalline nanowires: smooth nanowires dominated by {100} facets at high temperatures and zigzag nanowires composed of both {100} and {111} surfaces at low temperatures. Notably, there is no {110} facet in our nanostructures, strongly supporting the DFT calculations. Our device fabrication and electrical characterizations suggest that both types of nanowires are suitable for transport studies of topological surface states.

The mechanical behavior of nanolaminates is dominated by interfaces that act as sources, barriers, and preferred sites for storage and dynamic recovery of glide dislocations. In this article, the deformation mechanisms of a variety of metal-based nanolaminates are reviewed with emphasis on unusual mechanical properties such as ultra-high flow strength without loss of plastic deformability. IMPACT STATEMENT This paper reviews the current understanding of the mechanisms and mechanics of nanolaminated composites, and discusses the future direction in predicting the mechanical behavior of laminated composites.

Light-weight aluminum (Al) alloys have widespread applications. However, most Al alloys have inherently low mechanical strength. Nanotwins can induce high strength and ductility in metallic materials. Yet, introducing high-density growth twins into Al remains difficult due to its ultrahigh stacking-fault energy. In this study, it is shown that incorporating merely several atomic percent of Fe solutes into Al enables the formation of nanotwinned (nt) columnar grains with high-density 9R phase in Al(Fe) solid solutions. The nt Al-Fe alloy coatings reach a maximum hardness of ≈5.5 GPa, one of the strongest binary Al alloys ever created. In situ uniaxial compressions show that the nt Al-Fe alloys populated with 9R phase have flow stress exceeding 1.5 GPa, comparable to high-strength steels. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that high strength and hardening ability of Al-Fe alloys arise mainly from the high-density 9R phase and nanoscale grain sizes.

In semi-coherent interface, a superposed network of interface dislocations accommodates the attendant coherency strains in the adjacent crystals and their intersections (referred to as nodes) can act as sinks and sources for point defects because of the low formation energy. Nodes in {111} semi-coherent interfaces are characterized with a spiral pattern (SP), wherein the line direction of each dislocation entering a node curves. The structure of SP nodes is able to switch between condensed and expanded by either reaction with point defects or mechanical deformation. Due to the switching of the node structures, point defect formation energies at nodes can be significantly reduced. Combining atomistic simulation and dislocation theory, these features are proven universal corresponding to the node density and the character of interface dislocations.