Abstract
The inversion twin is an uncommon fault that potentially can be found in the wurtzite- and sphalerite-type crystal structures and related rhombohedral structures, all of which are hemimorphic and possess a polar axis parallel to the c-axis. The twin structure involves exact inversion of the sense of polarity across a transition region (boundary) of variable orientation and complexity. Although several examples of possible but uncertain occurrence of the twin have been noted in other materials, only in beryllium oxide crystals has it been found to occur with abundance and on a macroscopic scale. The inversion twin, as it occurs in BeO, is described in detail. Existence and geometry of the twin is evident from crystal morphology and chemical and mechanical properties. It is suggested that the twin boundary may be stabilised and its energy lowered by the presence of aliovalent impurities along the boundary. Relation of the inversion twin to other types of faults is considered briefly. Previous discussions and presentation of new data in up-to-date assessment of the inversion twin are reviewed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
G. Aminoff and G. Broomé, Z. Krist. 80 (1931) 355.
L. W. Strock and V. A. Brophy, Am. Min. 40 (1956) 94.
L. W. Strock, Acta Cryst. 10 (1957) 840.
L. W. Strock, V. A. Brophy, and T. E. Peters, Electrochem. Soc. Meeting (New York, April 1958).
L. W. Strock, Illuminating Engineering 55 (1960) 24.
W. F. Knippenberg, Philips Res. Repts. 18 (1963) 161–274.
H. D. Witzke, Phys. Stat. Sol. 2 (1962) 1109.
J. L. Birman, “Advances in Semiconductor Science” (Pergamon Press, New York, 1959), p. 35.
A. Lempicki, D. R. Frankel, and V. A. Brophy, Phys. Rev. 107 (1957) 1238.
W. W. Piper and W. L. Roth, Phys. Rev. 92 (1953) 503.
G. Cheroff and S. P. Keller, Phys. Rev. 111 (1958) 98.
S. G. Ellis, F. Herman, E. E. Loebner, W. J. Merz, C. W. Struck, and J. G. White, Phys. Rev. 109 (1958) 1860.
W. Merz, Helv. Phys. Acta. 31 (1958) 625.
A. Lempicki, Phys. Rev. 113 (1959) 1204.
International Conference on Beryllium Oxide (Sydney, Australia, 1963), J. Nucl. Mat. 14 (1964).
S. B. Austerman and K. T. Miller, Phys. Stat. Sol. 11 (1965) 241.
G. G. Bentle and R. M. Kniefel, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 48 (1965) 570.
W. L. Barmore and R. R. Vandervoort, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 48 (1965) 499.
S. B. Austerman, D. A. Berlincourt, and H. H. A. Krueger, J. Appl. Phys. 34 (1963) 339–341.
A. M. Degoar, J. Doulat, and B. Dreyfus, J. Nucl. Mat. 17 (1965) 159–166.
S. B. Austerman, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. Ser II 7 (1962) 607.
S. B. Austerman, J. Am Ceram. Soc. 46 (1963) 6–10.
S. B. Austerman, J. Nucl. Mat. 14 (1964) 225.
H. W. Newkirk and D. K. Smith, Am. Mineral. 50 (1965) 44–72.
W. G. Gehman, J. Chem. Education 40 (1963) 54.
W. G. Gehman, Acta Cryst. 17 (1964) 1516.
W. G. Gehman and S. B. Austerman, Acta. Cryst. 18 (1965) 375.
D. K. Smith, H. W. Newkirk, and J. S. Kahn, J. Electrochem. Society III (1964) 78.
R. C. Rau, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 46 (1963) 484.
IRE Standards on Piezoelectric Crystals (1949), Proc. IRE 37 (1949) 1378.
S. B. Austerman, J. B. Newkirk, H. W. Newkirk, and d. K. Smith (to be published).
C. F. Cline and J. S. Kahn, J. Electrochem. Soc. 110 (1963) 773–5.
S. B. Austerman, J. B. Newkirk, and D. K. Smith, J. Appl. Phys. 36 (1965) 3815.
H. Blank, P. Delavignette, R. Gevers, and S. Amelinckx, Phys. Stat. Sol. 7 (1964) 747–764.
S. B. Austerman, D. K. Smith, and H. W. Newkirk, “Growth-Related Defects and Growth Processes in BeO Crystals”, presented at the International Conference on Crystal Growth (Boston, June 1966). To be published in J. Phys. Chem. Sol.
J. W. Faust, Jr., and H. F. John, J. Phys. Chem. 25 (1964) 1407–1415.
A. R. Reinberg, J. Chem. Phys. 41 (1964) 850–5.
S. B. Austerman and J. W. Wagner, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 49 (1966) 94–99.
P. L. Pratt, R. Chang, and C. W. A. Newey, Appl. Phys. Letters 3 (1963) 83.
H. W. Newkirk and D. K. Smith came to the same conclusion in their independent studies (private communication).
M. Hart, Appl. Phys. Letters 7 (1965) 96–8.
R. W. Cahn, Advances in Physics 3 (1954) 363.
G. Friedel, “Lecons de Crystallographie” (Paris, Berger-Levrault, 1926).
D. K. Smith, C. F. Cline, and S. B. Austerman, Acta Cryst. 18 (1965) 393.
A. R. Verma and P. Krishna, “Polymorphism and Polytypism in Crystals” (Wiley, New York, 1966). (Added at proof stage.)
E. Parthé, “Crystal Chemistry of Tetrahedral Structures” (Gordon and Breach, Science Publishers, Inc., New York, 1964).
H. Blank, P. Delavignette, and S. Amelinckx, Phys. Stat. Sol. 2 (1962) 1660.
E. J. M. Kendall, Phys. Letters 8 (1964) 237–8.
A. H. Willis and K. Dearborn (private communication).
R. C. Rau, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 47 (1964) 179–184.
O. Brafman, E. Alexander, B. S. Fraenkel, Z. H. Kalman, and I. T. Steinberger, J. Appl. Phys. 35 (1964) 1855.
E. P. Warekois, M. C. Lavine, A. N. Mariano, and H. C. Gatos, J. Appl. Phys. 33 (1962) 690.
H. C. Gatos and M. C. Lavine, J. Electrochem. Soc. 107 (1960) 427.
N. W. Thibault, Am. Mineral. 29 (1944) 249, 327.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Based on work sponsored by the Fuels and Materials Branch, Division of Reactors and Technology, United States Atomic Energy Commission, under Contract AT-(11-1)-GEN-8.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Austerman, S.B., Gehman, W.G. The inversion twin: Prototype in beryllium oxide. J Mater Sci 1, 249–260 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00550173
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00550173