Spiral Growth on Nanoporous Silicoaluminophosphate STA-7 as Observed by Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy was used to study the surface of STA-7 crystals. STA-7 is a silicoaluminophosphate, nanoporous solid formed by interlinked double six ring units (D6R). Observations showed the formation of three distinct types of spirals at low supersaturation conditions. The {001} face shows spirals with isotropic shapes and a Burgers vector of 0.9 nm, which corresponds to one D6R or one unit cell along the ⟨001⟩ direction. The {100} face contains two distinct types of spirals. The first has a Burgers vector of 0.9 nm, or half a unit cell along ⟨100⟩. This dislocation produces a change in the “stacking” sequence of the D6Rs generating an overgrowth with the AEI structure. The second type is an interlaced spiral and is generated by a dislocation with a Burgers vector of 1.8 nm or one unit cell, leading to the formation of two substeps each with a different growth anisotropy. This anisotropy is directed by the shape of the substep and the energetics of template attachment. The preponderance of a surface coating of a secondary phase will have significant consequences on applications reliant on intracrystalline diffusion, such as catalysis, where, owing to diffusion limitations, the outermost structure dominates the functional properties.