Chemical and electrolytic etch pits on the (111) surface of silver single crystals

Abstract

The etch pit technique was utilized to reveal the dislocation structure on the (111) surface of silver single crystals. The study included the orientation of etch pits formed chemically and electrolytically on the (111) face. Changes in the crystallographic orientation of the etch pits were obtained by varying the current density and the concentration and composition of the etching solution. Grooved etch pits were obtained in a cyanide bath, whereas circular and triangular pits were obtained in an ammonium hydroxide bath. A one-to-one correspondence between the etch pits and the dislocation lines intersecting the surface was established.