Discovery of double helix of screw dislocations: a perspective

IMPACT STATEMENT Single helix and double helix of screw dislocations provide continuous growth steps for all crystalline structures. Thus, nanostructures materials can be grown without any need for catalysts. These dislocations also introduce Eshelby twist and create novel nanostructured materials with unique properties. We discuss the conversion of a pure screw dislocation into a helical (single helix) dislocation through absorption of vacancies. These helical dislocations having some edge and mostly screw character can pair up through attractive interaction to form a double helix. This attractive interaction between two helices is derived through the edge component of mixed dislocations and from the presence of vacancy jogs. Recent results on the growth of GeS [1] and PbS [3] nanowires with Eshelby twist showed large disagreements between experimental and theoretical Burgers vectors for these crystal structures, which can be resolved by introducing the double helix of screw dislocations.

Automated summary

The study explores the formation of screw dislocations and their role in the growth of nanostructured materials, showing how they can transform into helical dislocations and eventually pair up to form a double helix, impacting the growth of nanowires.