The Structure of Crystalline Solids

ISSUES TO ADDRESS...
• How do atoms assemble into solid structures?
(focus on metals)

• How does the density of a material depend on

its structure?

• When do material properties vary with the

sample orientation?

Chapter 3 - 1
 Lattice

An array of points such that every point has

identical surroundings

 In Euclidean space  infinite array

 We can have 1D, 2D or 3D arrays (lattices)

or

Translationally periodic arrangement of points in space is called a lattice

Chapter 3 -
 SYMMETRY

 If an object is brought into self-coincidence after some

operation it said to possess symmetry with respect to that
operation.

Chapter 3 -
Translational Symmetry

» Defining Symmetry of the Lattice

Chapter 3 - 4
Square Lattice

Chapter 3 - 5
Oblique Lattice

Chapter 3 - 6
 Cells

Instead of drawing the whole structure I can draw a representative

part and specify the repetition pattern

▪ A cell is a finite representation of the infinite lattice

▪If the lattice points are only at the corners, the cell is primitive.
▪ If there are lattice points in the cell other than the corners, the
cell is nonprimitive.

Chapter 3 -
 Nonprimitive
cell

Primitive
cell

Primitive
cell

Chapter 3 -
 Nonprimitive
cell

Primitive
cell

Primitive
cell

Chapter 3 -
Symmetry of the Lattice or the crystal is not altered by our choice of unit cell!!
 Nonprimitive
cell

Primitive
cell

Primitive
Double cell

Triple
Chapter 3 -
Symmetry of the Lattice or the crystal is not altered by our choice of unit cell!!
Different kinds of CELLS

Unit cell
A unit cell is a spatial arrangement of points which is tiled in three-
dimensional space to describe the lattice.
Conventional unit cell
For each crystal structure there is a conventional unit cell, usually chosen to
represent the symmetry of the lattice. However, the conventional unit cell is
not always the smallest possible choice.

Chapter 3 -
Bravais Lattice

Chapter 3 - 12
 Crystal = Lattice + Motif

Motif or basis:
an atom or a group of atoms associated with each lattice point

Chapter 3 -
 Lattice Crystal

Translationally periodic Translationally periodic

arrangement of points arrangement of motifs

Crystal = Lattice + Motif

Lattice ➢ the underlying periodicity of the crystal
Basis ➢ atom or group of atoms associated with each lattice
points
Lattice ➢ how to repeat
Motif ➢ what to repeat
Chapter 3 -
Lattice

Motif
+ 

Chapter 3 -
 Crystal

      
      
      
=       
      
      
      
      

Chapter 3 -
 Energy and Packing
• Non dense, random packing Energy

typical neighbor
bond length

typical neighbor r
bond energy

• Dense, ordered packing Energy

typical neighbor
bond length

typical neighbor r
bond energy

Dense, ordered packed structures tend to have

lower energies.
Chapter 3 - 17
 Materials and Packing
Crystalline materials...
• atoms pack in periodic, 3D arrays
• typical of: -metals
-many ceramics
-some polymers crystalline SiO2

Noncrystalline materials...
• atoms have no periodic packing
• occurs for: -complex structures
-rapid cooling
"Amorphous" = Noncrystalline noncrystalline SiO2

Chapter 3 - 18