Plastic relaxation of mixed dislocation in axial nanowire heterostructures using Peach–Koehler approach

Abstract

AbstractIn this Letter, the plastic relaxation introduced by typical 60° mixed dislocation in zinc‐blende axial nanowire (NW) heterostructures is evaluated by numerical Peach–Koehler approach which reflects the interaction between coherent strain field and misfit dislocation. Cylindrical NW epilayers grown on NW and bulk substrate are separately modeled. We reveal that straight 60° dislocation with Burgers vector (a /2) 〈101〉 would always generate at NW center orienting [111], while aspect ratio dependent off‐center equilibrium position should be expected for NW epilayer along [001]. Moreover, the critical diameters, below which coherency is maintained, are predicted based on energy balance criterion for axial NW heterostructures along predominating growth direction [111]. The results are compared with existing theory and experimental observations. Our work provides a necessary quantitative complement to the understanding of plastic relaxation and coherency limit in axial NW heteroepitaxy. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)