EdX

Microstructural Evolution of Materials Part 2: Defects and Diffusion (edX)

Offered by MIT, MITx,
Microstructural Evolution of Materials Part 2: Defects and Diffusion (edX)

Discover the principles of point defect evolution that explain materials science phenomena. This series introduces various kinetic phenomena in various classes of materials. The course explains how materials develop different microstructure based on different processing techniques, and it relates these microstructures to the properties of the material.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This module is Part 2 of a four-part series on the Microstructural Evolution in Materials. Taken together, these four modules provide similar content to the MIT Course 3.022: Microstructural Evolution of Materials.
Microstructural Evolution of Materials is intended for engineering and science students and professionals with an interest in materials statistics, kinetics, and microstructural transformations.
Part 1 of the course will introduce important concepts in statistical mechanics that are especially relevant to materials scientists. Topics include solid solutions, the canonical ensemble and heat capacity.
Part 2 of the course focuses on point defect evolution, including diffusion, substitutional diffusion, ionic defects, and ionic conductivity.
Part 3 of the course discusses surfaces and surface-driven reactions. Topics include surface energy, faceted and non-faceted growth, and growth and ripening.
Part 4 of the course focuses on phase transformations, including nucleation and growth, precipitate growth, interface stability, and glass transition.

What you'll learn
At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand the microscopic mechanisms that govern diffusion
  • Explain how ion exchange can be used to chemically strengthen glass
  • Predict the charge carrier concentration in various charge compensation regimes using the Brouwer approximation

Prerequisites
Diffusion

  • Fick’s First Law of Diffusion
  • The Diffusion Coefficient
  • Fick’s Second Law of Diffusion
  • Analytic Solutions to Fick’s Second Law

Diffusion Examples

  • Example #1: Meat Processing
  • Example #2: Doping of Semiconductors
  • Example #3: Chemical Strengthening of Glass

Self-Diffusion

  • Kinetics of Substitutional Self-Diffusion
  • Example: Substitutional Self-Diffusion in Gold

Substitutional Diffusion

  • Vacancy Diffusion
  • Vacancy Sources and Sinks
  • Kirkendall Effect
  • Motion of Crystal Planes
  • Interdiffusion in Ionic Solids

Ionic Defects & Defect Reactions

  • Types of Point Defects
  • Kröger-Vink Notation
  • Defect Reactions
  • Equilibrium Constant for Defect Reaction
  • Charge Compensation in Ionic Solids
  • Charge Compensation in Non-Stoichiometric Solids

The Brouwer Approximation

  • Introduction to the Brouwer Approximation
  • Brouwer Diagrams
  • F-Centers

Ionic Conductivity

  • An Introduction to Ionic Conductivity
  • Applications of Ionic Conductors
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Structure of Materials (edX) EdX
MIT,MITx

Structure of Materials (edX)

Engineering Sci: Chemistry

Discover the structure of the materials that make up our modern world and learn how this underlying structure influences the properties and performance of these materials. Structure determines so much about a material: its properties, its potential applications, and its performance within those applications. This course from MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering explores the structure of a wide variety of materials with current-day engineering applications.

No sessions available
13-24 Weeks
Materials Structures Diffusion
Details
Ferrous Technology I (Coursera) Coursera
Pohang University of Science and Technology - POSTECH

Ferrous Technology I (Coursera)

Engineering

Steel, ever-evolving material, has been the most preeminent of all materials since it can provide wide range of properties that can meet ever-changing requirements. In this course, we explore both fundamental and technical issues related to steels, including iron and steelmaking, microstructure and phase transformation, and their properties and applications.

May 11th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Engineering Steel Microstructure
Details
Phase Diagrams I & II (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Phase Diagrams I & II (Coursera)

Engineering

In this course, we will look at phase diagrams and how they are used to determine the state of the material as a function of temperature and composition. We will also investigate how the microstructure and materials properties can be manipulated as a function of temperature and composition. A special focus will be on the eutectic phase diagram.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Diffusion Microstructure Materials Science
Details
Diffusion and Mass Transfer (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Taipei Medical University

Diffusion and Mass Transfer (FutureLearn)

Engineering Science

Master a core field of chemical engineering by learning about transport phenomena like diffusion, convection, and mass transfer. This six-week course from Taipei Medical University (TMU) provides a comprehensive overview of transport phenomena, with a particular focus on diffusion, mass transfer, and convection. Once you’ve understood the fundamentals of all three processes, you’ll learn how to analyse them using coefficient models.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Chemical Engineering Transport Phenomena Mass Transfer
Details
Introduction to Thermodynamics (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Hull

Introduction to Thermodynamics (FutureLearn)

Sci: Chemistry Sci: Physics

Discover the laws of thermodynamics as you learn how to calculate chemical properties and predict chemical reactions. Get an introduction to thermodynamic properties and systems. Curious about thermodynamics or thinking about studying it at university? This short course from the University of Hull offers a short introduction to the fundamentals of thermodynamics – the branch of physics that deals with heat and its relation to energy.

Available now
3 Weeks
Physics Energy Thermodynamics
Details
Applied Quantum Computing III: Algorithm and Software (edX) EdX
Purdue University,PurdueX

Applied Quantum Computing III: Algorithm and Software (edX)

Engineering Science

Learn domain-specific quantum algorithms and how to run them on present-day quantum hardware. This course is part III of the series of Quantum computing courses, which covers aspects from fundamentals to present-day hardware platforms to quantum software and programming. The goal of part III is to discuss some of the key domain-specific algorithms that are developed by exploiting the fundamental quantum phenomena (e.g. entanglement)and computing models discussed in part I.

Mar 25th 2024
5-12 Weeks
Programming Cloud Hardware
Details
Additive Technologies in Metallurgy & Mechanical Engineering (Coursera) Coursera
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

Additive Technologies in Metallurgy & Mechanical Engineering (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Physics

Every teenager is ready to answer the question - what is 3d printer? But not every experienced engineer can imagine where and how additive technologies can be applied in mechanical engineering and especially in metallurgy. This is the subject of our online course. The use of additive technologies is one of the clearest examples of how new developments and equipment can significantly improve traditional manufacturing.

Jul 18th 2022
5-12 Weeks
Prototyping Properties Mechanical Engineering
Details
Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) (edX)

Food & Nutrition Sci: Chemistry

Top chefs and Harvard researchers explore how everyday cooking and haute cuisine can illuminate basic principles in chemistry, physics, and engineering. Learn about food molecules and how chemical reactions can affect food texture and flavor. During each module of this course, chefs reveal the secrets behind some of their most famous culinary creations — often right in their own restaurants. Inspired by such cooking mastery, the Harvard team will then explain the science behind the recipe.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Science Physics Food
Details
Nanophotonic Modeling (edX) EdX
Purdue University,PurdueX

Nanophotonic Modeling (edX)

Engineering Sci: Physical & Earth Sciences

Learn a comprehensive set of simulation techniques to predict the performance of photonic nanostructures. This engineering course is an introduction to photonic materials and devices structured on the wavelength scale. Generally, these systems will be characterized as having critical dimensions at the nanometer scale. These can include nanophotonic, plasmonic, and metamaterial components and systems.

Feb 12th 2024
5-12 Weeks
Engineering Nanophotonic Modeling Photonic Nanostructures
Details