Formation of Thin Films and Fine Single Crystals from Gas Phase on Ionic Crystal Surfaces under Heating and an Electric Field

Abstract

The behavior of surfaces of ionic crystals of various crystallographic orientations and surfaces of cleavage under heating in an electric field was studied. On the surfaces, viscous liquid drops or fine single crystals were observed. The charge appearing on crystal surfaces resulted from depletion or saturation of the near-surface layers with positive ions that led to a stoichiometric change in the crystal substance. Single crystals were formed from ionic gas, which appeared due to the sublimation of matrix ions from cleaved surface.