Polyhedral instability and transition to skeletal growth during electrocrystallization of cadmium

Abstract

The formation of shallow cavities and the growth of skeletal forms of cadmium single crystals during electrocrystallization at high current densities was investigated. The similarity with the polyhedral instability during vapour growth of the same crystals was discussed. The maximum rate of stable growth and the critical slope of the step train in the centre of the crystal face were considered theoretically, which, when surmounted, lead to the transition from isometric to skeletal and dendritic growth. The transition forms have been deduced from the growth of macroscopically flat peripheries around the shallow cavities on the crystal faces.