Electron Microscope Study of the Morphology of Lithium Fluoride Surfaces following Dissolution in Dilute Aqueous Solutions of Ferric Ions

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Abstract
High-resolution replica electron microscopy has revealed a complex structure of surface ledges on {100} cleavages of lithium fluoride crystals after etching in dilute aqueous solutions of ferric chloride. Ledge heights vary from approximately 400 Å in etchant containing 0.1 ppm ferric ions and are unresolvable at greater than 2 ppm ferric ions. The ledge density is also modified with change in ferric ion content, and this has been related to previous studies of inhibitor adsorption in this system. It is proposed that the ledge structure is due to irregular inhibition by the ferric ions, and the results have been compared with recent theoretical and experimental studies of crystal dissolution.