Crystal Symmetry Imperfections in Solids

• Lecture 01: Fundamentals • Solidification- result of casting of molten material

• Lecture 02: Structure of metals – 2 steps
• Nuclei form
• Nuclei grow to form crystals – grain structure
• Lecture 03: Crystal defects
• Start with a molten material – all liquid
• Lecture 04: Miller indices

• Lecture 05: X-ray diffraction (application)

• Lecture 06: Structure of Si, Ge, N and P

nuclei crystals growing grain structure
liquid

• Crystals grow until they meet each other

Why are defects important? Imperfections in Solids

Defects have a profound impact on the various properties of ISSUES TO ADDRESS

materials:
• What are the solidification mechanisms?
Bonding + Crystal Structure + Defects Properties
• What types of defects arise in solids?

• Can the number and type of defects be varied

and controlled?
Production of advanced semiconductor devices require not only a rather
perfect Si crystal as starting material, but also involve introduction of
specific defects in small areas of the sample. • How do defects affect material properties?

Defects are responsible for color (& price) of a diamond crystal. • Are defects undesirable?

Forging a metal tool introduces defects … and increases strength of the

tool.

1
 Types of Imperfections Point Defects in Metals
• Vacancies:

• Vacancy atoms -vacant atomic sites in a structure.

• Interstitial atoms Point defects
Vacancy
• Substitutional atoms
distortion
of planes
• Dislocations Line defects
• Self-Interstitials:
-"extra" atoms positioned between atomic sites.
• Grain Boundaries Area defects
self-
interstitial
distortion
of planes

Line Defects Line Defects

Dislocations:
Linear Defects (Dislocations)
• are line defects,
– Are one-dimensional defects around which atoms are
• slip between crystal planes result when dislocations move, misaligned
• produce permanent (plastic) deformation.

Schematic of Zinc (HCP):

• Edge dislocation:
– extra half-plane of atoms inserted in a crystal structure
• before deformation • after tensile elongation – b perpendicular () to dislocation line

slip steps • Screw dislocation:

– spiral planar ramp resulting from shear deformation
– b parallel () to dislocation line

2
 Motion of Edge Dislocation Imperfections in Solids
• Dislocation motion requires the successive bumping of a half plane of atoms
(from left to right here). Screw Dislocation
• Bonds across the slipping planes are broken and remade in succession. Screw Dislocation

Atomic view of edge

dislocation motion from
left to right as a crystal
is sheared.
b
Dislocation
line
Burgers vector b (b)
(a)

Click once on image to start animation

(Courtesy P.M. Anderson)

Edge, Screw, and Mixed Dislocations Polycrystalline Materials

Mixed Grain Boundaries

• regions between crystals
• transition from lattice of
one region to that of the
other
• slightly disordered
• low density in grain
boundaries
– high mobility
Edge
– high diffusivity
– high chemical reactivity
Screw

3
 Semiconductor Materials

• Point, Line, and Area defects exist in solids.

• The number and type of defects can be varied

and controlled (e.g., T controls vacancy conc.)

• Defects affect material properties (e.g., grain

boundaries control crystal slip).
• Defects may be desirable or undesirable
(e.g., dislocations may be good or bad, depending
on whether plastic deformation is desirable or not.)