Abstract:
 “Dislocation”, “defect”, “disorder” are familiar terms in medicine and carry no good news. In materials, these things are also often detrimental to the properties, reducing mechanical strength, conductivity, stability [1]. In our theoretical studies of grain boundaries, dislocations and edges in 2D nitrides [2] and disulfides [3] we find a few examples where such defects can bring about useful functionality, serving as electrically conducting imbedded nanowires [3] or even magnetic elements, forming at certain conditions semi-metallic spin channels [4].
[1] Ajayan and BIY, Nature Mater. 10, 415 (2011); Z. Song et al. Nano Lett. 13, 1829 (2013).  [2] Y. Liu et al. ACS Nano 6, 7053 (2012).  [3] X. Zou et al. Nano Lett. 13, 253 (2013); S. Najmaei, et al. Nature Materials, 12, 754 (2013); W. Zhou, et al. Nano Lett. 13, 2615 (2013). [4] Z. Zhang, et al., arXiv:1308.4355 (2013).

Boris I. Yakobson is an expert in theory and computational modeling of materials nanostructures, of their synthesis, mechanics, defects and relaxation, transport and electronics. Presently, Karl F. Hasselmann Chair Professor in Engineering, professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, and professor of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas. PhD 1982 in Physics and Applied Mathematics, from Russian Academy of Sciences. 1982-1989, Head of Theoretical Chemistry group at the Institute of Solid Materials of the Russian Academy. 1990-1999, on the faculty of the Department of Physics, North Carolina State University. His research, sponsored over the years by the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, NASA, Department of Defense, Army Research Office, Air Force Research Laboratory and AFOSR, Office of Naval Research, as well as private industry and foundations, resulted in over 200 publications and seven patents. Received Department of Energy Hydrogen Program Award, Nano 50 Innovator Award from Nanotech Briefs (Boston), Royal Society (London) Professorship Award, Department of Energy R & D Award, NASA Faculty Award. Yakobson has mentored a number of PhD students and postdoctoral associates, serves on the editorial boards of several journals and on steering committees.