Ultra-large Macroscopic Plastic Deformation and Metalworking in Inorganic Semiconductors

Brittleness is a major bottleneck that limits the efficient processing and manufacturing of inorganic semiconductor materials and their application in complex structural scenarios.Overcoming the intrinsic brittleness of inorganic semiconductors and achieving metal-like processing and manufacturing have long been significant challenges in the field of materials science.In recent years, Chinese researchers have pioneered the discovery of room-temperature macroscopic ultra-large plastic strain in inorganic semiconductors, reshaping the traditional understanding of the mechanical properties of these materials.The exceptional plasticity of these materials enables various metal-like processing and manufacturing methods, resulting in diverse material forms such as sheets, foils, wires, and rods, which greatly expands the application scenarios.After years of development, ductile inorganic semiconductors have gradually emerged as an important and emerging research focus in the field of inorganic non-metallic materials.This perspective briefly reviews the research progress and development trajectory of this new direction, with a focus on representative work in the materials discovery, deformation mechanisms, cold and warm processing, and exemplary applications.Finally, we tentatively outline the challenges and potential future research directions in this field.