We discuss our recent studies of topological defects (kinks) in ion Coulomb crystals. Experimentally two different types of kinks are created by non-adiabatically driving the second-order phase transition from a linear to a zigzag phase. The kink creation rates are investigated in relation to the inhomogeneous Kibble-Zurek mechanism. Stability and dynamic properties of both types of kinks are explained by the Peierls-Nabarro potentials. In addition, we report on the influence of mass defects on kinks. We show how the application of electric fields can change the influence of mass defects in a controlled way and present a first evidence for a deterministic creation and manipulation of kinks.