For use in optoelectronics, energy storage, and phase-change memory systems, indium telluride (α-In2Te3) is a highly desirable semiconductor material. Nevertheless, α-In2Te3 is not very stable under harsh environmental conditions. Investigation of the impact of acoustic shock waves on α-In2Te3 has not yet been studied. This study examined the structural, optical, and morphological behavior of α-In2Te3 by subjecting it to 100, 200, 300, and 400 shock pulses at 0.59 MPa pressure, 520 K temperature, and 1.5 Mach number. Extensive characterization was performed using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis DRS, and FE-SEM. XRD and Raman results showed that there was no degradation in the crystal structure from 100 to 400 shock pulses; instead, there were merely small shifts observed in the diffraction peak during 100, 200, and 300 shock pulses; at 400 shock pulses, it reverts back to its original positions. FE-SEM images showed clear morphological evolution between 100, 200 and 300 shock pulses, which can be explained as resulting from shock wave-driven superheating and supercooling-induced dynamic recrystallization processes. Remarkably, the material reformed and revert back into its original morphology after 400 shock pulses, indicates like a partially reversible change in morphology. The results show that dynamic recrystallization leads to switchable changes in morphology, like a phase-change memory behavior. Overall, this research recognizes acoustic shock waves as a valuable means of adapting changes in optical and partial reversible morphological properties with structural stability intact, leading the way to functional material engineering and processing strategies.
Bincy et al. (2026) studied this question.