Change in the etch pit morphology of bismuth with temperature

Abstract

The effect of temperature on the etch pit morphology of the (111) cleavage planes of bismuth single crystals are described. A chemical etchant which revealed the emergent ends of dislocations was used. The shape of the dislocation etch pits changes from the characteristic triangular shape at room temperature to a hexagonal shape as the etching temperature is increased to 60 °C. This change in etch pit morphology is explained in terms of the removal of atoms from steps.