A study of growth defects in face-centred cubic metal foils prepared by evaporation

Abstract

Single crystal foils of copper, silver and gold were prepared by evaporation of the metal onto the cleavage face of a hot rock salt crystal. Examination of the foils in a transmission electron microscope showed the presence of dislocations and stacking faults. Many of the stacking faults had part of their area on one {111} plane and the remainder on another. A number of defects which involved three faulted planes were also observed. In addition, the foils contained dislocation loops and tetrahedral stacking faults similar to those discovered recently in quenched metals. The formation of defects during film growth has been considered. Stacking faults result from the coalescence of ' out of phase ' metal nuclei. Experimental evidence for this is presented.