Observation of anomalous dislocation behavior in graphite using ultrasonic atomic force microscopy

We found a new type of dislocation motion in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite during subsurface observation by ultrasonic atomic force microscopy. As a load was applied by the tip, apparent edge-type dislocations (Frank partial dislocations) moved to the direction of climb over distances of 47 nm and returned to the original position as the load was removed. To explain this motion, we propose a possible model where the extra half-plane of the dislocation is elastically compressed to shorten its length due to the normal load applied by the tip.