Crystal Growth Mechanism in Cadmium Sulfide Crystals

Abstract

Large cadmium sulfide crystals have been grown from the vapor phase. The crystal growth was studied by observing growth patterns, chemical etch patterns, and vaporization patterns. The studies reveal a layer or lamellar type growth, the layers resulting from the coalescence of monatomic steps into ledges of many atomic layers in height. The layers are generated at or near the crystal edge and move across the surface by edge nucleation. The exact mechanism by which the steps are generated is not known, however, it is believed that they result from screw dislocations or surface nucleation.