Titanium atom that exists in two places at once in crystal to blame for unusual phenomenon

Science Daily  December 3, 2020
The crystalline solid BaTiS3 (barium titanium sulfide) is terrible at conducting heat. An international team of researchers (Caltech, University of Southern California, Stanford University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Washington University, Wright Patterson AFB, Argonne National Laboratory, South Korea) found that a wayward titanium atom that exists in two places at the same time is to blame. It provides a fundamental atomic-level insight into an unusual thermal property that has been observed in several materials. The work is of particular interest to researchers who are exploring the potential use of crystalline solids with poor thermal conductivity in thermoelectric applications…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE