Preparation and Growth of Single Crystals of Metallic Azides by Controlled Diffusion in Silica Gel System

Abstract

STUDIES of the solid state properties of metallic azides are at present restricted by the lack of availability of single crystal specimens because of preparative difficulties. According to reports, lead azide, for example, may explode spontaneously during solution growth, particularly when faster growth rates are used1–3. Crystal growth in gels at near ambient temperatures seems to be an attractive technique for growing single crystals of such metal azides4–7. In gels, the diffusion controlled growth rates are lower than in solution and convection currents, which may be a causative disturbance for explosions are virtually eliminated.