Lecture-2: Unit Cell, Bravais Lattice

Lecture-2
Unit cell, Bravais Lattice
▪ Primitive & Non-primitive Unit cells

▪ Different Lattice symbols
▪ Total no. of atoms in different unit cells
▪ Bravais lattice in three-dimensions
1
Lattice parameters : Arbitrary arrangements of
crystallographic axes, marked X, Y and Z, defining a unit cell
shown in the fig. The three sides of a unit cell which are
called the crystallographic axes. The angles between the three
axes α, β and γ are called interfacial angles.
The intercepts a, b and c define the
dimensions of a unit cell and are known
lattice parameters of the unit cell. These
are also called the geometrical constants
of a given crystal.
2
Unit Cell : A crystal lattice is made up of infinite
repetitions of a small group of ions in three-dimensional
pattern. It is built up by the combination of a regular array
of ions in which each ion is surrounded by a definite
number of ions of opposite charges.
The small group of ions which is repeated in a crystal
lattice in three-dimensional pattern is known as a unit cell.
The unit cell is thus the smallest portion of the crystal
lattice which has all the various kind of symmetry which
characterise the crystal.
3
Fig. 1.Unit cell
▪A parallelepiped shaped volume which reproduced by close

packing in three dimension gives the whole crystal, is called
the unit cell. There are two types of unit cell:
▪Primitive unit cell
▪Non-primitive unit cell
4
Primitive unit cell: The unit cell occupying the smallest
volume in a given lattice is called the primitive unit cell. It
contains only one lattice point.
Non-Primitive unit cell: The unit cell which is larger than
the minimum volume unit cell is defined as a non-primitive
unit cell. A non-primitive unit cell contains more than one
lattice point. The volume of a non-primitive unit cell is an
integral multiple of a primitive cell.
5
Here parallelogram 1, 2, 3 are equal in area and any one of
them could be taken as the primitive cell.
The parallelogram 4 has twice the area of a primitive cell
and thus a compound cell. The compound cell is also a
non-primitive cell.
6
▪Distinguish between primitive unit cell & unit cell:
Primitive Cell Unit Cell
1. The unit cell occupying the 1. A parallelepiped shaped
smallest volume in a given volume, which reproduced by
lattice is called the primitive unit close packing in three dimensions
cell. gives the whole crystal is called
the unit cell.
2. It always contains only one 2. It may contain more than one
lattice point. lattice point.
3. A primitive cell is the smallest 3. A unit cell may be smallest or
cell in crystal. A cell smaller not.
than it is never possible.
4. It is always a unit cell. 4. But a unit cell is not always a
primitive cell. 7
Lattice symbol ‘P’: The lattice symbol ‘P’ means the
primitive cell where lattice points are at the corners of
the cell. A primitive cell is always a unit cell.
Simple cubic (sc)

Lattice symbol ‘I’: The lattice symbol ‘I’ means the
body centered lattice. In the body centered lattice, the
lattice points are at the corners and inside the cell.
8
Lattice symbol ‘F’: The lattice symbol ‘F’ means the
face-centered lattice. In the face centered lattice, the lattice
points are at the corners and all the faces centered.
(base centered
lattice)
Lattice symbol ‘C’: The lattice symbol ‘C’ means the

lattice is base centered or the side centered or C-face
centered. In the base centered lattice, the lattice points are
at the corners and at the face centered of opposite sides.
9
11
14
15
Triclinic: In the triclinic system, the single lattice type has a
primitive unit cell (P) with three crystallographic axes of
unequal lengths and unequal angles between them. i.e.
Monoclinic: In the monoclinic system, there are two lattice

types: one with a primitive unit cell (P) and other with a
non-primitive conventional cell which may be base centred (C)
with the lattice point at the centre of the rectangular cell faces.
Where
Orthorhombic: In the orthorhombic system, there are four lattice
types: one lattice has a primitive unit cell (P), one lattice is base
centered (C), one lattice is body centered (I), and one lattice is
face centered (F). Here,
Tetragonal: In the tetragonal system, there are two lattice types:

one is primitive unit cell (P) and another is body centered (I). In
this case
17
Cubic: In the cubic system, there are three lattice types: the
simple-cubic lattice (sc), the body centered cubic (bcc), and the
face centered cubic (bcc).Here,
Trigonal/ Rhombohedral: In the Trigonal system, is usually

chosen as the primitive cell. In this case
18
Hexagonal: In the Hexagonal system, the lattice is primitive and
for this
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Lecture-2: Unit Cell, Bravais Lattice

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Lecture-2

Unit cell, Bravais Lattice

▪ Primitive & Non-primitive Unit cells

▪A parallelepiped shaped volume which reproduced by close

Simple cubic (sc)

Lattice symbol ‘C’: The lattice symbol ‘C’ means the

Monoclinic: In the monoclinic system, there are two lattice

Tetragonal: In the tetragonal system, there are two lattice types:

Trigonal/ Rhombohedral: In the Trigonal system, is usually

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