Crystal growth from the vapor phase. Experiment MA-085
The positive effects of microgravity on crystal quality and the fundamental properties of the vapor transport reaction were established by analyzing the results of three transport experiments on multicomponent systems performed during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. The systems employed were GeSe0.99Te0.01-GeI4(A), GeS0.98Se0.02-GeCl4(B), and GeS-GeCl4-Ar (C). The crystallographic analysis is based on a direct comparison of space and ground-based (prototype) crystals employing X-ray diffraction, microprobe, microscopic, and chemical etching techniques. The results demonstrate a considerable improvement of the space-grown crystals in terms of chemical and crystalline homogeneity, surface morphology, and bulk perfection relative to ground specimens.