Initial stages of misfit stress relaxation by rectangular prismatic dislocation loops in composite nanostructures

Abstract

Theoretical models are proposed for describing the initial stages of misfit stress relaxation in bulk and hollow core-shell nanoparticles and nanowires, and in planar bi- and trinanolayers through generation of rectangular prismatic dislocation loops at the inner and outer interfaces. We obtain the changes in the total energy of the system due to the appearance of dislocation loops and calculate the critical conditions of their formation. We also determine the most profitable shape of the loops and the preferred places of their generation. Finally, we choose the nanostructures which are the most stable against dislocation loop generation.