Surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) methods and systems for modifying nanostructures

A method, comprising:

• modifying a surface of a material from an initial state to an anodized state, resulting in a modified surface;
• applying a surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) to the modified surface of the material for a defined duration of time, wherein the applying the SMAT comprises emitting a wave at a target frequency to induce movement of a ball at a target ball speed for a collision into the material that achieves a target structural reconfiguration comprising a rearrangement of atoms of the modified surface of the material in a lattice structure, and wherein the rearrangement of the atoms result in an enhanced charge trapping characteristic as compared to an initial structural configuration of the material;
• emitting, by an ultrasonic horn, a first wave at a defined frequency, wherein the first wave contacts a ball;
• colliding the ball, at the target ball speed based on the first wave contacting the ball, with the modified surface of the material, wherein a collision of the ball with the modified surface of the material achieves the rearrangement of the atoms of the modified surface of the material, and wherein the target ball speed is such that more than the rearrangement of the atoms does not substantially occur;
• and
• generating a defined lattice strain due to the rearrangement of the atoms within the modified surface of the material based on colliding the ball with the modified surface at the target ball speed.

A method, comprising:

• affixing an initial material comprising a surface layer and a substrate layer in a chamber, wherein within the chamber are a set of balls and an ultrasonic vibration generator capable of emitting an ultrasonic vibrational force wherein the initial material is affixed in the chamber opposed to the set of balls and the ultrasonic vibration generator;
• applying the ultrasonic vibrational force to the set of balls using the ultrasonic vibration generator;
• colliding the set of balls with the surface layer of the initial material, wherein, as a result of an induced movement of the set of balls by the ultrasonic vibrational force, an impact between the set of balls travelling at a target ball speed and the surface layer achieves a target impact level, wherein the target ball speed is sufficiently low that more than a reorganization of atoms does not substantially occur;
• and
• creating a lattice strain defect comprising a rearrangement of atoms in a lattice structure substantially throughout the surface layer resulting in an enhanced material comprising an enhanced charge trapping property as compared to the initial material absent the lattice strain defect.