Imaging of a single atomic column in silicon grain boundary

Atomic resolution high voltage electron microscopy was applied in investigations of the atomic structure of [112] sigma3 CSL grain boundary of silicon. Images of the grain boundary, viewed in the < 110 > direction, showed two types of dark spots. One type was rod shaped, which represented an atomic pair aligned in the < 111 > direction. The other was a small round spot, which represented a single atomic column in the grain boundary. The atomic structure of [112] sigma3 CSL grain boundary was directly shown from the atomic-structure image.