What is the unit cell and coordinates for wurtzite crystal structure?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The wurtzite crystal structure is characterized by its ABABAB stacking sequence. The unit cell, which is the smallest repetitive unit in the crystal, encapsulates multiple atoms but only requires the specification of two atoms' positions, forming what is known as the asymmetric unit. The coordinates (x, y, z) in this context represent the positions relative to the unit vectors a1, a2, and a3 of the hexagonal lattice. Understanding the distinction between the unit cell and the asymmetric unit is crucial for grasping the wurtzite structure.

PREREQUISITES
  • Knowledge of crystal structures and their definitions
  • Understanding of unit cells and asymmetric units in crystallography
  • Familiarity with hexagonal lattice systems
  • Basic comprehension of symmetry operations in crystallography
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of hexagonal crystal systems
  • Study the concept of asymmetric units in crystallography
  • Explore symmetry operations and their applications in crystal structures
  • Learn about the computational tools used for modeling crystal structures
USEFUL FOR

Students and researchers in materials science, crystallography, and solid-state physics, particularly those focusing on the wurtzite structure and its applications in semiconductor materials.

aaaa202
Messages
1,144
Reaction score
2
As far as I understand wurtzite is the name given to the crystal structure defined by the stacking sequence ABABABAB..
However, I am having a hard time understanding what the unit cell is of wurtzite. From what I know the unit cell is the smallest repetitive unit and in it you specify the position of the different atoms. So I looked up something about wurtzite and found that data:
http://som.web.cmu.edu/structures/S014-ZnO.html
And according to this you only need to specify the position of two atoms, while the unit cells seems to encapsulate a lot more atoms - why are the positions of these not specified?
And another question: The meaning of the coordinates (x,y,z) is x*a1,y*a2,z*a3, where a1,a2,a3 are the unit vectors of the hexagonal lattice - right?
Thanks for taking your time
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
16K
Replies
3
Views
6K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
7K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K