Crystal Interfaces

Abstract

An expression for the energy of an interface of general form between two crystals of arbitrary structures and relative orientations is derived in a form suitable for a variational calculation. This variational approach is applied to a one‐dimensional interface between two two‐dimensional crystals of differing lattice constants. In general there is a minimum in the interfacial energy when the lattice distances in the two crystals are in the ratio of small integers. Particular cases in which the surface potential is either sinusoidal or parabolic are discussed and detailed curves of interfacial energy as a function of lattice misfit are calculated.