Nucleation Control and Rapid Growth of KDP Crystals in Stationary Conditions

Abstract

Thanks to an improved control of the nucleation, an original crystal growth method operating in stationary thermodynamic conditions has been developed. It allows rapid growth of crystals at constant temperature and supersaturation. As a case study, large KH 2 PO 4 (KDP) crystals of high purity have been reproducibly obtained at constant temperatures and growth rates of 1 cm/day. Recorded X-ray diffraction topographs of as-grown crystals showed high crystal quality. This method opens the way for the rapid growth of high quality crystals for homogeneous intermediate compositions of solid solutions, doped crystals, and compounds exhibiting a weak solubility.