Low-energy configurations of symmetric and asymmetric tilt grain boundaries

Abstract High-resolution electron-microscopy experiments are combined with computer simulations of tilt grain boundaries (GBs) in Au to investigate the preferred GB planes in ∑ = 9 and ∑ = 11 bicrystals. The energies calculated for a variety of symmetric and asymmetric GBs suggest that asymmetric GB-plane orientations are often preferred over symmetric ones. Experimentally it is found that symmetric and asymmetric GBs coexist for each misorientation, and that the observed atomic-scale facets are consistent with the computed energies. In accordance with earlier observations, it is suggested that a significant fraction of the GBs in polycrystalline materials may indeed be asymmetric. Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, BES-Materials Sciences, under contract W-31-109-Eng-38. The U.S. Government retains a non-exclusive, royalty free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. Notes Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, BES-Materials Sciences, under contract W-31-109-Eng-38. The U.S. Government retains a non-exclusive, royalty free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes.