Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Characterization of Ultra-fine Grained and Nanocrystalline Materials Using Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction
Published on: April 1, 2017
Dynamics of individual atomic kinks during crystal dissolution
Abstract:
The dynamics of kink motion via atom removal/deposition as a fundamental step in dissolution/crystallization of solids have become directly accessible by a novel scanning tunneling microscopy technique. Results obtained for the electrochemical dissolution of Cu(100) in HCl solution show pronounced local dissolution/redeposition fluctuations at the individual kinks even at the onset of Cu dissolution with average kink propagation and reaction rates in the range 10(3) and 10(5) atoms s(-1), respectively. These experiments allow one to directly measure the central kinetic properties of this electrochemical reaction.
Related Concept Videos
X-ray Crystallography
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Solution Equilibrium and Saturation
Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria
Determination of Crystal Structures
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Stoichiometric Point Defects

