In situ interferometric investigation of hillock morphology of the {100} and {101} faces of KDP growing in TMS gels

Abstract

The results of an in situ interferometric study of the surface morphology of {100} and {101} faces of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystals growing in the tetramethoxysilane gel are described and discussed. It was observed that: (a) in the case of crystal growth in gel both slopes of hillocks and surface kinetic coefficient are smaller than in solution growth, (b) for low supersaturations face growth rate linearly depends on bulk supersaturation and the structure of growth centers depends on the supersaturation and growth rate, and (c) for high supersaturations polyhedral instability appears. Supersaturation threshold for transition to polyhedral instability was estimated and formation of gel inclusions is discussed.