Surface structures of fluorite crystals

Optical studies have been made of the microstructures on the natural {100} and {111} faces of natural fluorite crystals. The protrudance of triangular elevations, growth pyramids, and natural etch pits have been observed on a large number of crystals. It is suggested that fluorite crystals grown by two-dimensional spreading and piling of growth layers parallel to {100} faces. The natural etch pits on {100} and {111} faces suggest that they have been produced as a result of a dissolution process in nature. The natural faces have been etched in the laboratory and it is established that the pits indicate the existence of linear defects in the crystals. The implications are discussed.     

Microstructures of gel-grown ammonium hydrogen tartrate single crystals

Single crystals of ammonium hydrogen tartrate (AHT) have been grown in silica gels by employing the controlled reaction between ammonium chloride and tartaric acid. Transparent AHT crystals upto 24 × 4 × 3 mm³ in size have been grown at room temperature. Optical and electron-optical studies have been made on the various surface structures of {010} faces of the grown crystals. A variety of growth striations and growth hillocks have been observed. Growth layers modified by the presence of misaligned microcrystals have been illustrated. It has been suggested that two-dimensional nucleation, spreading and pilling up of growth layers is mainly responsible for the growth of these crystals and the implications are discussed.     

Microstructures on {111} faces of stannic iodide single crystals

Single crystals of stannic iodide (SnI₄) havebeen grown using the controlled reaction between SnCl₂ and KI by diffusion process in silica gel medium. Orange to reddish octahedral stannic iodide crystals up to 3–4 mm in size have been grown at room temperature. Optical studies have been made on the various surface structures of {111} faces of the asgrown crystals. On octahedral faces of these crystals, triangular-shaped hillocks with growth layers in the 〈110〉 directions have been observed. Occasionally, growth spirals on octahedral faces have also been reported. Close loops of growth fronts have been investigated and have been interpreted. It has been suggested that two-diemensional nucleation, spreading and pilling up of triangular growth layers is mainly responsible for the growth and occasionally the growth is due to screw dislocations. The implications are discussed.     

Growth‐Sector Boundaries and Growth‐Rate Dispersion in Potassium Alum Crystals

Crystals of potassium alum, pure and slightly doped with Cr³⁺, were grown from aqueous solution by slow temperature lowering. In addition, short re‐dissolution periods were introduced in order to provoke growth defects and changes of growth rates. Crystal slices of about 1 mm thickness were studied by conventional LANG X‐ray diffraction topography using MoKα radiation. For Cr‐doped crystals, boundaries between {100}, {100} and {111} growth sectors appear by pronounced dynamical X‐ray topographic contrast similar to that of stacking faults. Re‐dissolution experiments provoke the formation of inclusions on {100} faces, followed by an increase of the {100} growth rate by the factor of about six, relative to the neighboured {111} faces. X‐ray topographs show that this increase is correlated with the formation of dislocations, which interestingly have pure‐edge character. During further growth these dislocations penetrate the {100}‐{111} growth sector boundary and vanish from the {100} face, which slows down and finally adopts its former growth rate before re‐dissolution.     

Effect of flux composition on the morphology of KTiOPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals

KTiOPO₄ crystals have been grown from flux of K₆P₄O₁₃ in the presence of K₂SO₄, Li₂SO₄, and Na₂SO₄ salts and V, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Mo, Ba, Ce, Er, and W impurities. The crystals grown are characterized by well-developed simple {100}, {011}, and {201} faces. In some cases, new ({111} and (031)) faces arise. Some distortion of crystals caused by their pulling in the [101] direction is observed.     

Peculiarities of the growth of KDP single crystals with incorporated aluminium oxyhydroxide nanoparticles

Grown for the first time are KH₂PO₄ (KDP) crystals with incorporated aluminium oxyhydroxide Al₂O₃·nH₂O nanoparticles (n=3.5–3.6). The influence of the nanoparticles on the structure perfection and the growth kinetics of the crystal faces are studied. The presence of the nanoparticles in the crystal matrix is confirmed by the results of chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The most essential inhibiting effect of the nanoparticles is observed for the {100} faces. The mechanism of influence of the nanoparticles on the {100} faces growth is explained on the base of the Cabrera–Vermilyea (C–V) model using Langmuir adsorption isotherm.     

Observation of optical inhomogeneities in flux grown KTP crystals

Optical inhomogeneities in potassium titanyl phosphate crystals grown from different fluxes have been investigated. In the crystals grown from a flux which contains tungsten, striations parallel to the {011} faces were observed. The main reason for forming striations is the change in tungsten concentration with change in growth rate. In the case of a potassium phosphate flux, no striations were observed in the crystal which was grown at almost the same temperature and stirring conditions as for the tungstate flux. We can conclude that the phosphate flux is more suitable for the growth of optically good crystals for KTP as laser harmonic converters.     

Study on the Growth of Triglycinsulphate Single Crystals

Crystallization of TGS at 52.0°C - above the transition point - has been studied in a wide range of supersaturation of the solution (σ = 0 to 10⁻²). The rates of growth of {110} and {001} faces were measured as a function of supersaturation at constant hydrodynamical conditions (Re = 3.4 · 10⁻³). Further, the influence of hydrodynamical conditions on the growth of {110} faces at constant supersaturation (σ = 4.2 · 10⁻³) was established. The parameters of the experimentally found dependences are determined on the basis of the surface-diffusion model of BURTON . CABRERA and FRANK . From these dependences follows that the growth rate of the {110} faces is already almost limited by the volume diffusion of TGS molecules towards the crystal surface, while in the case of {001} faces the surface diffusion mechanism of crystallization is clearly manifested. Dislocation densities in the crystals have been determined by means of etching technique. The number of dislocations increases with increasing supersaturation; hence, supersaturation of the solution together with the processes taking place in the regeneration zone surrounding the seed determine the number of dislocations in the crystal volume and thus the resulting structural perfection of single crystals. Investigation of the spontaneous redistribution of domains showed that the growth rate of TGS crystals influences the dielectric properties to much smaller extent than does chemical purity.     

The Morphology of Hydrothermally Grown Plagioclase

Plagioclase crystals Ab₂₀An₀₀ and nearly pure anorthite were grown on the surface of artificial melts by hydrothermal treatment at 2 kb. The average crystal size was 0.002 to 0.008 mm. In the temperature range of 400° to 600°C a pseudohexagonal habit was observed for anorthite while a lath-like habit due to the prevalence of {010} was found for the Ab₂₀An₈₀ composition. Dominating faces are {010} {130} {110} {100} {110} {130} in the zone [001] and {021} {111} {111} {021} {111} {111} together with {001}.     

Microscopic investigations of morphological structures on the pyramidal faces of KDP and DKDP single crystals

Studying a number of {101} faces of KDP and DKDP single crystals in the as-grown state we found in most cases one, rarely few, clearly stepped growth hillocks covering the whole face. The geometry of these growth hillocks was determined from photomicrographs; the step heights were measured with a profilometer. To prove our results we carried out X-ray topographic investigations and in-situ observations on KDP crystals. In addition we studied the as-grown faces of ADP and LiJO₃ single crystals.     

Abscheidung von Cu2O aus der Gasphase im strömenden Medium

CVD-experiments in the system Cu O H Cl N result in the growth of Cu₂O single crystals. The characteristic faces of the various forms are the {100} ones. A thermodynamic analysis permits to predict such conditions under which Cu₂O is deposited without deposition of any other phases.     

Zum chemischen Transport der Übergangsmetalldioxide mit Tellurhalogeniden

The thermodynamic relationship between the transition metal dioxides and their tetrahalogenides is demonstrated, and a comprehensive survey on the thermodynamic values of the compounds is given. – All dioxides of the transition metals existing to 1000°C in the solid state are transportable by TeCl₄. Only those dioxides are transported by TeBr₄ which have corresponding oxide-bromides existing in the gaseous phase. – The forms of crystallographic growth are very similar. The favoured growth direction is [001], the crystal faces are {110}- and {100}-prisms, {101}- and {111}-pyramids, respectively.     

DKDP晶体的柱面形貌与缺陷分析

采用原子力显微镜观测全方位生长的DKDP晶体的{100}面形貌,发现有螺旋位错,由此推断DKDP晶体{100}面以螺旋位错机制生长;利用同步辐射X射线白光形貌术观测了DKDP晶体缺陷,探讨了不同生长条件及生长阶段对晶体完整性的影响.     

Kinetic Investigations within the Transition Region from Polyhedral to Skeletal Growth Mode (V). Growth Kinetics of the Pyramidal Face of Zinc Single Crystals under Diffusion Conditions

The growth kinetics of the pyramidal face of zinc single crystals is studied in the presence of argon. The curves size vs. time provide evidence that smaller crystals grow in a kinetic regime and after reaching a certain critical size their growth continues in a diffusion regime. The growth kinetics of faces {101 } and {0001} are compared. It is established that the growth of both faces simultaneously changes from a kinetic to a diffusion growth mode. During the transition between the two regimes, however, loss of the morphological stability only of the smooth {0001} face is observed, while the {101 } face with macro steps formed on the surface acquires a skeletal shape after prolonged growth. It is shown that the appearance of morphological instability depends on the surface structure of the crystal faces.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of highly symmetric 26‐facet Cu2O polyhedra

Highly symmetric 26‐facet polyhedral microcrystals of cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) are successfully synthesized through a facile low temperature hydrothermal reaction. These polyhedra are constructed by well‐developed {100}, {110} and {111} crystallographic faces. The obtained microstructures were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Ultraviolet‐Visible (UV‐Vis) absorption spectrum. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium (EDTA‐2Na) have been confirmed to be necessary additives to the development of these perfect polyhedra. The growth process of the 26‐facet Cu₂O polyhedra is depicted on the grounds of the time‐dependent experiments. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Direct Growth of Aggregates on {110} Faces of Cadmium Mercury Thiocyanate Crystals

New growth phenomena ‐ direct incorporation of aggregates have been observed on the {110} faces of cadmium mercury thiocyanate CdHg(SCN)₄ crystals by atomic force microscopy. These aggregates grow in two forms: some directly cover up the steps and forms new growth layers; while others are just incorporated at the step edges. These aggregates, which are mostly oriented along [111] direction, are formed by small columnar structural units. The aggregates have the similar structure of CdHg(SCN)₄ crystals and greatly vary in nature with the variation of solution supersaturation σ and growth time t. With the increase of σ the aggregates become larger, consistent with the variation of growth units dimension with the supersaturation; and with the increase of growth time the aggregates become more structurally substantial. These observations have led to a new understanding about the crystal growth.     

Growth of α-NiSO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · 6H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O crystals at high rates

The high-rate growth of nickel sulfate hexahydrate NiSO₄ · 6H₂O (α-NSH) crystals up to 120 × 120 × 65 mm³ in size is described for the first time. The data on the distribution of related impurities in the {011} and {001} growth sectors of α-NSH crystals grown at different rates are reported. The transmission spectra of both growth sectors of these crystals are obtained. The structural quality and the optical properties of rapidly and slowly grown α-NSH crystals are compared. It is established that the {011} growth sector of crystals grown at rates exceeding 5 mm/day shows the best characteristics for application in UV filters.     

Ferrous Tartrate recognition of sodium chloride {111} and its effect on crystal growth

The surface morphology and growth pattern of some molecules could be altered by the recognition of ferrous tartrate (FeC₄H₄O₆, FeTA). We have explored this phenomenon in the aspect of growth rate and morphology alteration of sodium chloride crystals where few researches have been done. In this paper, the crystallization behavior of NaCl with added FeTA was studied by supersaturation test, conductivity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the supersaturation of NaCl solution could be increased to about 5.5 % in presence of FeTA prior to the onset of crystallization. Furthermore, SEM images and XRD results indicated that the addition of FeTA could change the morphology of NaCl crystal from cubic to octahedron by impeding the growth of {111} and {110} faces. Besides, the interaction between NaCl {111} face and FeTA was discussed and the possible spatial structure of FeTA was speculated through the lattice parameters of NaCl.     

Kinetics of dissolution and calcium sulphate growth on {111} faces of calcium fluoride crystals etched in sulphuric acid

The effect of temperature (20–100°C) and concentration of H₂SO₄ etching solutions on the etching behaviour of {111} faces of calcium fluoride crystals is investigated. Whisker growth of calcium sulphate is observed. Temperature of the etchant also has an effect on their formation. The kinetics of dissolution at the sites of dislocations and general dissolution have been studied. Studies on induction period and its dependence on the concentration of the acid and temperature are also described. It is observed that: (i) at low and high acid concentrations, the dissolution is diffusion controlled while it is predominantly reaction-rate controlled in the intermediate concentration range and (ii) the growth rate of calcium sulphate whiskers decreases with time and their induction period decreases with increase in the temperature of the solution. The implications are discussed.     

水热法BSO晶体腐蚀像及与晶体对称的关系

对水热法生长的两种不同结晶习性的 BSO晶体进行了腐蚀像的观察研究,得到了{100}、{110}、{211}、{111}晶面的腐蚀形貌特征,建立了BSO晶体腐蚀像在三维空间分布的立体模型。研究发现不同单形晶面的蚀坑形态不同,但都体现了晶体的对称性。不同晶面腐蚀难易程度与晶体结构有关。