Assignment 3

Date: September 14, 2016

To: Dr. Ron Goulet
From: Barbara Sevilla
Subject: Chapter 4: Solidification and Crystalline Imperfections
1) In your own words describe the solidification process of a pure metal in terms of the
nucleation and growth of crystals.

Answer:

The solidification process of a pure metal undergoes through 2 stages such as:
nucleation and formation of crystals. During the nucleation process, the metal undergoes a
melting process, which is when the atoms of the material arrange into specific patterns as it cools
and solidifies. These patterns then serve as sites for the deposition of additional particles which
results to the growth of crystals.
2) Explain in your own words how the degree of undercooling affects the critical nucleus
size (in the homogeneous nucleation process).
Answer:
The critical radius is inversely related with the change of volume free energy, Gv.
On the other hand, the magnitude of Gv depends on the degree of the undercooling of the
material. Therefore, the greater the degree of undercooling results to a greater magnitude of gibbs
volume free energy released and results to a lower critical radius size.
3) Name and describe in your own words how large silicon single crystals for the
semiconductor industry are produced.
Answer:
The formation of a larger crystal of the same material involves connection with a
seed crystal in a liquid solution of the same material. The process of producing silicon consists of
soaking a seed crystal into the molten silicon solution given an amount to time. The seed crystal
is taken off of the molten solution slowly, which makes sure that the liquid silicon follows the
seed as it solidify evenly while pullling away.
4) In your own words, list the conditions favorable for extensive solid solubility of one
element in another (Hume-Rothery rules).
Answer:
To have a favorable extensive solid solubility of one element to another, the
uncertainty for the radii of the atoms should stay less than or equal to 15%. Having identical
crystal structures of the two elements will result to completion of formation of solid solutions. To
prevent the formation of compounds in the two elements, the elements should not have significant
differences in its electronegativities to form solid solutions.

5) In your own words describe and illustrate with sketches the Frenkel and Schottky point
defect imperfections.

Answer:
The two types of point defects in crystal lattice are Frenkel and Schottky point
defect imperfections. The Frenkel point defect occurs when the cations and anions have similar
sizes, which can also replace one another; this process occurs in substitutional solid solutions. On
the other hand, Schottky point defect occurs when the set of cations and anions with the same size
are being occupied by smaller atoms in between them; this point defect occurs in interstitial solid
solutions.
Interstitial point defect consists of a set of atoms with similar sizes as well as an extra atom that is
smaller than the rest of the host.
Substitution point defect consists of a set of atoms with similar sizes and number of valence
electrons, which can interchangeably take place of each other.
6) In your own words describe volume defects also known as three dimensional defects.
Answer:
Void is a type of volume defect where the density is not distributed evenly
because the atoms did not form a clustered space in a specific area, leaving an empty space,
called voids. Another case of a volume defect is called a precipitate, which is an irregularly large
cluster of atoms that forms on the material. Therefore, volume defects are irregularities on the
distribution of atoms in a given volume.
7) In your own words, explain what a high resolution transmission electron microscope
(HRTEM) is, how it works and what its dimensional resolution is.
Answer:
A high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) is an important
equipment use to examine defects and crystal structure with a dimensional resolution of
approximately 0.1nm. The dimensional resolution of this instrument can provide a glimpse of the
crystal structure defects in an atomic level.
The HRTEM transmits an electron beam to be able to view the material and its structure
and defects. The electron beam goes through the electromagnetic lenses as it goes toward the
sample. The electromagnetic lenses are used to make the electron beam thinner so that the
resulting image will have a higher resolution even in smaller scales. However, there are some
conditions that need to be met because to achieve a quantitative analysis image is not easy and
needs to be slowly handled. A sample of 10-15nm is needed to be able to project defects.