Direct Observation of Large-Scale Screw Dislocation Grids in Oxide Heteroepitaxies

Screw dislocation is important not only for understanding plastic deformation of crystals but also for optical and electrical properties of materials. However, characterizations of screw dislocations are still challenging since there is almost no atom distortion when viewed along the dislocation line. In particular, although it is theoretically known that shear strains in heteroepitaxy systems may be relaxed via screw dislocation grids, the specific structures and thickness-dependent evolutions of these grids are still largely unknown. Here, by using orthorhombic [001]-oriented DyScO₃ substrates we have directly observed large-scale screw dislocation grids in the DyScO₃/BiFeO₃ oxide heteroepitaxies exhibiting large shear strain. Pure screw dislocations with a[100] and a[01̅0] Burgers vectors were confirmed by multiscale transmission electron microscopy study. Our results directly confirm screw dislocation grids as a factor to tailor shear strains in epitaxial systems and suggest a practical platform for studying structures and induced responses corresponding to screw dislocations.