Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
The defects which occur in polycrystalline aluminum nitride are very detrimental to the beneficial physical and electrical properties. 'Dome-like' or 'D' defects, consisting of a flat basal fault joined to a curved planar fault, are examined by high-resolution electron microscopy. The basal segments are shown to contain a thin ∼5Å layer of a second phase and are associated with a stacking-fault and an antiphase boundary. A structural model is proposed for the defect which incorporates a layer of alumina at the basal segment of the 'D' defect. The formation of thisdefect is discussed.