Real-time control of material properties is challenging yet promising for material design and technological applications. Here, we experimentally demonstrated that the strength of a ZnO single crystal could be altered and restored by the rapid response to the switch-on/off of an electron beam. The effect of electron-beam irradiation on the strength of a ZnO single crystal in the presence and absence of irradiation through scanning electron microscopy was investigated. The electron-beam irradiation significantly decreased the ZnO shear strength, but halting the irradiation restored the strength. A first-principles analysis indicated that the ideal shear strength was decreased by hole doping. Our results implied that the change in strength was due to a decrease in the bond strength caused by the presence of holes, thereby suggesting that material strength can be rewritten by controlling the excess electrons/holes.Real-time control of material properties is challenging yet promising for material design and technological applications. Here, we experimentally demonstrated that the strength of a ZnO single crystal could be altered and restored by the rapid response to the switch-on/off of an electron beam. The effect of electron-beam irradiation on the strength of a ZnO single crystal in the presence and absence of irradiation through scanning electron microscopy was investigated. The electron-beam irradiation significantly decreased the ZnO shear strength, but halting the irradiation restored the strength. A first-principles analysis indicated that the ideal shear strength was decreased by hole doping. Our results implied that the change in strength was due to a decrease in the bond strength caused by the presence of holes, thereby suggesting that material strength can be rewritten by controlling the excess electrons/holes.

中文翻译：

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电子束辐照改变氧化锌单晶的键强度

材料特性的实时控制对于材料设计和技术应用来说具有挑战性但很有前景。在这里，我们通过实验证明了 ZnO 单晶的强度可以通过对电子束开关的快速响应来改变和恢复。通过扫描电子显微镜研究了在存在和不存在照射的情况下电子束照射对 ZnO 单晶强度的影响。电子束辐照显着降低了 ZnO 剪切强度，但停止辐照会恢复强度。第一性原理分析表明理想的剪切强度因空穴掺杂而降低。我们的结果表明强度的变化是由于孔的存在引起的粘合强度的降低，从而表明可以通过控制多余的电子/空穴来改写材料强度。材料特性的实时控制对于材料设计和技术应用具有挑战性但很有前景。在这里，我们通过实验证明了 ZnO 单晶的强度可以通过对电子束开关的快速响应来改变和恢复。通过扫描电子显微镜研究了在存在和不存在照射的情况下电子束照射对 ZnO 单晶强度的影响。电子束辐照显着降低了 ZnO 剪切强度，但停止辐照会恢复强度。第一性原理分析表明理想的剪切强度因空穴掺杂而降低。