Defects in Crystals

Abstract

Although the theoretical treatments of nucleation and crystal growth make the simplifying assumption that the crystal lattice beneath the growth surface is perfect, this is never the case. The elevated temperature results in the formation of lattice point-defects. As the temperature of the solid increases, so does the amplitude of oscillation of the atoms on the lattice sites. An increasing fraction of these are displaced from their sites to produce lattice vacancies and interstitials. In the simple Frenkel defect (Figure 3.1a) both are retained in the lattice, whereas in the Schottky defect (Figure 3.1b) ejected atoms migrate to a free surface or interface.