A TEM study of long-period mica polytypes: determination of the stacking sequence of oxybiotite by means of atomic resolution images and Periodic Intensity Distribution (PID)
Abstract
In this study it is shown that the stacking sequences in long-period mica polytypes (including a rare example of a mixed-rotation polytype, with a 36-layer long periodicity) can be unambiguously determined using atomic resolution images recorded down two zone axes separated by 30° (e.g. [100] and [310]) at the same area. Uniformity of these stacking sequences in a large area is further confirmed by the correspondence between computed and observed Periodic Intensity Distributions (PIDs) in electron diffraction patterns. The appearance of long-period polytypes containing layers with different orientation parity may be explained by the coalescence of two small crystals during crystal growth.