Growth of different habits of lead bromide crystals in silica gel by the new gel technique

Lead bromide crystals of high optical perfection and of different habits have been grown in silica gel by new gel technique starting from colloidal lead tartrate and KBr solution. pH is found to be not a factor for habit modification. Certain habits of the grown crystals exhibit interesting surface features. The growth conditions have been optimized and the various aspects of the growth process have been widely investigated.