Microstructure and crystal defects in ZnMgO pleated nanosheets

Dislocations in the ZnMgO pleated nanosheets were observed from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Burgers vector was identified as 1/3 < 11 (2) over bar3 > from the Fourier filtered TEM images. Raman spectra revealed that there were microstructure defects in the ZnMgO nanosheets with the increasing Mg content. The incorporation of the Mg impurities in the ZnMgO nanosheets may promote the congregation of oxygen vacancies and thus facilitate the generation of dislocations. The oxygen deficiency as well as surface dislocations played an important role in determining the optical properties of ZnMgO pleated nanosheets. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2975368]