Localized Deformation and Fracture Behaviors in InP Single Crystals by Indentation

The indentation-induced deformation mechanisms in InP(100) single crystals were investigated by using nanoindentation and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) techniques. The results indicated that there were multiple “pop-in” events randomly distributed in the loading curves, which were conceived to arise primarily from the dislocation nucleation and propagation activities. An energetic estimation on the number of nanoindentation-induced dislocations associated with pop-in effects is discussed. Furthermore, the fracture patterns were performed by Vickers indentation. The fracture toughness and the fracture energy of InP(100) single crystals were calculated to be around 1.2 MPa·m(1/2) and 14.1 J/m(2), respectively.