Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 July 2020
The measurement of the absolute crystal polarity is crucial to understanding the structural properties of planar defects in the sphalerite structure. Due to the directionality of the chemical bond between cations and anions in this lattice, grain boundaries in sphalerite can be described by two distinct structural models. Each model is distinguished by the relative orientation of the polar axis in the grains adjoining the interface. In order to evaluate the polarity of twinned grains in GaP, a dynamical diffraction technique is used to determine the Ga to P bond direction across a coherent twin boundary.
The characterization of the polarity in GaP was performed using a convergent-beam electron diffraction technique developed by Tafto and Spence.CBED can be used to identify the direction of the crystal polarity by observing asymmetries in dynamical diffraction contrast in reflections from crystal planes of opposite polarity. Such contrast arises when the Ewald sphere intercepts a weak {002} reflection plus two or more higher order, odd indexed reflections.