This topic is mapped with CO2 and CO3 of the course
5.1 MILLER INDICES
Miller indices, group of three numbers that indicates the orientation of a plane
or set of parallel planes of atoms in a crystal. If each atom in the crystal is
represented by a point and these points are connected by lines, the
resulting lattice may be divided into a number of identical blocks, or unit
cells; the intersecting edges of one of the unit cells defines a set of
crystallographic axes, and the Miller indices are determined by the intersection
of the plane with these axes. The reciprocals of these intercepts are computed,
and fractions are cleared to give the three Miller indices (hkl). This scheme,
devised by British mineralogist and crystallographer William Hallowes Miller,
in 1839, has the advantage of eliminating all fractions from the notation for a
plane.
Figure 5.1 1-D, 2-D, 3-D Planes in a unit cell[1]
Properties
Miller indices are used to specify directions and planes.
1. These directions and planes could be in lattices or in crystals
2. The number of indices will match with the dimension of the lattice or the crystal
3. E.g. in 1D there will be 1 index and 2D there will be two indices etc.
Notation Summary
• (h,k,l) represents a point – note the exclusive use of commas
• Negative numbers/directions are denoted with a bar on top of the number
• [hkl] represents a direction
• (hkl) represents a plane
• {hkl} represents a family of planes
How to find miller indices
Determine the intercepts of the face along the crystallographic axes, in terms of
unit cell dimensions.
1. Take the reciprocals
2. Clear fractions
3. Reduce to lowest terms
For example, if the x-, y-, and z- intercepts are 2, 1, and 3, the Miller indices are
calculated as: Take reciprocals: 1/2, 1/1, 1/3
Clear fractions (multiply by 6): 3, 6, 2
Reduce to lowest terms (already there)
Figure 5.2 1-Dimensional miller indices [2]
[Link]
Figure 5.3 2-Dimensional miller indices[2]
Figure 5.4 3-Dimensional miller indices[2]
Importance of Miller Indices
• In Materials Science it is important to have a notation system for atomic
planes since these planes influence
Optical properties
Reactivity
Surface tension
Dislocations
5.2 D- SPACING
The d-spacing can described as the distance between planes of atoms that give
rise to diffraction peaks.
Figure 5.5 interplanar distance d [2]
Tringle OMP
Cosα = OM/OP = ad/h -----i
Tringle OMQ
Cosβ = OM/OQ = bd/k……ii
Tringle OMR
Cosγ = OM/OR = Cd/k……iii
By law of direction cosines
Cos2α+ Cos2β+ Cos2γ = 1
Putting the values from (1), (2) and (3) we get
a×a×d×d/h×h +b×b×d×d/k×k + c×c×d×d/l×l = 1
[Link]
Figure 5.6 expression for interplanar distance for cubic unit cell[2]
[Link]
Figure 5.7 Expression for interplanar distance[2]
2.4 SUMMARY
Miller indices use for measuring direction in crystal systems.
The miller indices denote as (hkl).
The coordinator of plane parallel to axis is infinity.
The negative of miller indices denote as bar of number.
Interplanar distance can be measured by using miller indices.
REFERENCES
Videos
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
Websites
[Link]
MTS_02_m.pdf
[Link]
[Link]
Books
Malik H.K, Singh A.K. (2011) Engineering Physics, TMH, New Delhi. ISBN:
9780070671539
Beiser A. (2002) Concepts of Modern Physics, McGraw Hill Education.
ISBN: 9780070495531
[Link]
Crystallography_and_the_World_of_Symmetry.pdf
[Link]