Electron microscopy and electron diffraction study of the domain structures, the dislocation fine structure, and the phase transformations in β‐MoTe₂

Domain configurations in the β‐phase of MoTe₂ are analysed by electron diffraction and imaging techniques, and related with the α → β phase transition. Structural models are proposed for the orientation variants giving rise to ortho‐, meta‐, and para‐type boundaries, and for translation variants occurring in β‐MoTe₂. The expected fine structure of dislocations is analysed, and the interaction behaviour of dislocation ribbons upon boundary crossing is discussed. From electron diffraction experiments it is concluded that the most frequently occurring twin boundaries are of the para‐type. Finally it is demonstrated by electron diffraction that the displacive β → β′ transition occurs in a continuous manner whereby the β‐angle of the monoclinic structure decreases continuously to 90°.