Crystal Clear: Groundbreaking Discovery Shatters Conventional Wisdom

A recent study challenges the conventional definition of crystals by revealing that crystal structures are not always regularly arranged. The discovery of the random stacking of hexagonal layers (RHCP) as a stable structure overturns previous beliefs and has implications for materials science, particularly in semiconductors, solar panels, and electric vehicle technologies. The study provides insights into polytypism and suggests that polytypic materials like silicon carbide may have continuous structural transitions with new useful properties. The research was conducted using X-ray scattering data and advanced computation techniques.