INSIGHTS INTO GROWTH-MECHANISM OF SILVER-HALIDE TABULAR CRYSTALS - CUBO-OCTAHEDRAL SIDE FACES

The nature and the geometry of the side-faces of the silver halide tab ular crystal are considered from a theoretical point of view. The prev iously held view of the octahedral nature of the side-faces is modifie d to include other non-{111} planes, notably the (100) planes. Some of the predicted side-face geometries based on the cubo-octahedral plane s are supported by the experimental evidence presented. The existence of perpetually growing high-aspect-ratio tabular crystals with a singl e twin plane is predicted and experimentally verified. Alternative exp lanations are offered for the tabular crystal growth patterns revealed by the luminescence banding technique. Some of the mechanistic aspect s of the published mechanisms are also discussed.