A stacking fault is a type of crystallographic defect that occurs in a crystal structure, particularly in metals and semiconductors. It refers to a disruption in the regular sequence of atomic planes in a crystal lattice. In a perfect crystal, the arrangement of atoms follows a specific, repeating pattern. However, a stacking fault disrupts this orderly arrangement by causing a misalignment or a shift in the sequence of the atomic layers.
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A local interruption of the normal sequence of close-packed or other crystallographic layers. It can change local symmetry and influence nanocrystal growth.