Point Defects - zero-dimensional imperfections

Point defects have the volume of atomic dimensions: Examples are: foreign atoms, vacant lattice sites, extra or missing electrons.  The most common are:

a) Substitutional impurity atoms (usually large)

b) Interstitial impurity atoms (usually small)

c) Vacancies (missing atoms)

            

                    interstitial defects                                                                     Vacancies

      

                  Substitutional impurity atoms