Relaxation of a dislocation in a nanocrystallite

Experimental studies of dislocations in nanoparticles are just beginning. The corresponding theoretical models are still lacking. In this context, the author analyzes relaxation of a dislocation in a nanoparticle. Mechanistically, this process is considered to occur primarily via dislocation drift induced by the stress-related image forces. Elementary dislocation displacements include the formation of a kink at one of the sides of the dislocation line, its diffusion along this line, and annihilation at the opposite side. For this mechanism, the dependence of the time of dislocation disappearance on the nanoparticle size has been identified.