Distinct growth phenomenon observed on l-Arg · CF3COOH crystals

Atomic force microscopy has been employed to study the growth behaviour on the {1 0 1} facets of l-Arg · CF3COOH crystals grown at 25 °C at a supersaturation of σ = 0.2. Nucleation on the wider step terraces and a large nucleus composed of two separate 2D nuclei were observed for the first time. For the region where blocking occurs convex pattern are found in the macrosteps, which correspond to the sites of the impurities that act as pinning points hindering step propagation. Finally, liquid inclusions will be generated because of disparate formation mechanisms.