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Structural variability of edge dislocations in a SrTiO3 low-angle [001] tilt grain boundary

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Abstract

Using a spherical aberration (Cs)-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), we investigated a 6° low-angle [001] tilt grain boundary in SrTiO3. The enhanced spatial resolution of the aberration corrector leads to the observation of a number of structural variations in the edge dislocations along the grain boundary that neither resemble the standard edge dislocations nor partial dislocations for SrTiO3. Although there appear to be many variants in the structure that can be interpreted as compositional effects, three main classes of core structure are found to be prominent. From EELS analysis, these classifications seem to be related to Sr deficiencies, with the final variety of the cores being consistent with an embedded TiOx rocksalt-like structure.

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Correspondence to James P. Buban.

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This paper was selected as an Outstanding Symposium Paper for the 2008 MRS Spring Meeting, Symposium Z. To maintain JMR’s rigorous, unbiased peer review standards, the JMR Principal Editor and reviewers were not made aware of the paper’s designation as Outstanding Symposium Paper.

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Buban, J.P., Chi, M., Masiel, D.J. et al. Structural variability of edge dislocations in a SrTiO3 low-angle [001] tilt grain boundary. Journal of Materials Research 24, 2191–2199 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0259

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0259

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