crystallite (rus. кристаллит) — a solid body of micron or submicron size, a three-dimensional periodic lattice of atoms, ions or molecules, bounded by a closed surface; beyond such surface there can be a crystal lattice with altered or impaired orientation, or a gaseous or liquid phase or vacuum.

Description

Crystallites of nanometre size in at least one dimension are called nanocrystallites. A crystallite that is strongly bonded with other crystallites along its borders makes up part of a solid polycrystalline body. A crystallite being a component of ceramics and having distinct borders observed using optical or electron microscopy, is commonly called a grain. The term “coherent scattering range”, having similar meaning, is often used in crystallographic studies.

Illustrations

<p></p><p>Powder crystallites:</p><p><span class="Apple-style-span">a) </span>La<sub style="out

Powder crystallites:

a) La0,75Na0,25MnO3–d

b) Zn3Nb2O8

Author: Oleg A. Shlyakhtin, Lomonosov Moscow State University. From personal files.


Authors

  • Ivanov Victor V.
  • Shlyakhtin Oleg A.