Equilibrium vacancy concentration measurements on zinc single crystals

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The formation parameters of vacancies in hexagonal zinc single crystals have been investigated by combined lattice parameter change and length change measurements. A maximum vacancy concentration at melting temperature of (Cv)max=(4.9+or-0.3)*10-4 was found. The energy of formation and the entropy of formation for a single vacancy were determined to be E=(0.53+or-0.07)eV and s=(1.1+or-1) kB respectively. The creation of vacancies leads to a highly anisotropic volume change in zinc crystals. The ratio obtained from measurements in the a and c directions is ((Delta L/L)c-Delta c/c)/((Delta L/L)a-Delta a/a)=5.7. Six times as many etch pits were found on a surface as on c surfaces. The authors concluded that in their zinc crystals, dislocations were preferentially oriented in the basal plane.