Plan-View CBED Studies of Nio-Zro2(CaO) Interfaces

Abstract

ABSTRACTLow energy lamellar interfaces in the directionally solidified eutectic (DSE) NiO-ZrO2(CaO) have been investigated using transmission electron diffraction and imaging. The symmetry of this bicrystal and an aspect of interfacial relaxations in the form of symmetry lowering in-plane rigid body translation (RBT) have been explored by performing convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) experiments of plan-view bicrystals. Edge-on interfaces have also been studied by conventional and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (CTEM and HRTEM respectively), and electron diffraction fine structure analysis. Despite certain experimental difficulties due to interfacial defects and strain, plan-view CBED patterns offered valuable information concerning bicrystal symmetry and indicated no symmetry lowering RBT in this bicrystal. The suitability of plan-view CBED is briefly discussed in view of its potential as a technique to determine bicrystal symmetry and RBT.