Pyrochlore islands, based on La2Zr2O7, were grown onto Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (001) single-crystal surfaces by reaction between La2O3 vapour and the crystal. A network of interfacial edge dislocations, with line directions of [100] and [010] and Burgers vectors of a/2[101] and a/2[011] respectively (the lattice parameter of the Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2) was observed at the moving La2Zr2O7/ZrO2 reaction front. The interface-parallel component of the Burgers vectors accommodated the La2Zr2O7/ZrO2 lattice mismatch of +5%. Meanwhile, the perpendicular component caused a slight tilt of the La2Zr2O7 lattice with respect to the ZrO2 lattice. The dislocation half-loops nucleated and glided on inclined {101} planes at the edges of the 4 corners of the growing islands.

Formation and Structure of Misfit Dislocations at the La2Zr2O7-Y2O3-Stabilized ZrO2 (001) Reaction Front during Vapour-Solid Reaction. C.J.Lu, S.Senz, D.Hesse: Philosophical Magazine Letters, 2002, 82[4], 167-74