Dislocation-actuated Crystal Growth and Crystal Growth Inhibition

Dislocations in crystals affect material properties and are essential for crystal growth near equilibrium, yet their genesis in the absence of external or internal stresses is unresolved. Real-time in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to visualize screw dislocation generation in L-cystine crystals during crystal growth. Statistics of dislocation generation from colloidal particles in potassium hydrogen phthalate (KAP) crystals were studied by etching method.

Scanning electron micrograph of a typical hexagonal l-cystine crystal

(A–F) AFM deflection error images acquired during real-time in situ growth of the l-cystine {0001} face in supersaturated solution; (G–I) AFM images of the same region during dissolution in undersaturated solution

Dislocation generation by an inclined cube-like particle, forming two confined Frank–Read sources during growth

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