In situ studies of the spiral growth of zinc thiourea sulphate crystals with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid doped by atomic force microscopy.

Investigation of crystal growth under screw dislocation mechanisms on the (100) face of zinc tris (thiourea) sulphate (ZTS) crystals doped ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been carried out in a fluid cell by in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). The generation of a dislocation spiral during the step advancing was observed. Through the measurement of the critical length of four sides of a rectangular spiral with a complete growth period, the advancement velocities, step edge free energies and kinetic coefficients of steps have been obtained. The changes in the step velocity with time have been studied. It was found that the relationship between the step velocity and step length is inconsistent with the previous report. The emergent points of dislocations do not disappear even though they are covered by either several elementary steps or macro-steps. It is also shown that the interchange of two spirals whose emergent points of dislocations are adjacent will lead to a distortion of two contiguous steps and affect the growth rates of spirals. The obviously asymmetric growth of spirals of opposite sign in real time was observed. The coexistence and competition of dislocation spirals under different conditions was emphasized considering the activity of dislocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]