空间低温溶液晶体生长的地基实验

首次使用疏水型聚四氟乙烯微孔滤膜，利用其透气不透水的特性，密封晶体生长容器，采用恒温蒸发法进行晶体生长.溶剂通过蒸发离开生长容器后，被生长容器外的吸附剂吸附，使得溶液维持一定过饱和度，以实现单晶的连续生长.在此基础上研制出一套空间低温溶液晶体生长地基模拟装置.利用此装置进行了一系列地基模拟实验，获得一批高质量α-LiIO₃单晶，证实了该生长装置的溶剂蒸发量和容器密封性能够满足空间低温溶液晶体生长需要，为未来空间低温溶液晶体生长实验奠定了基础.

Ground-based Experiments of Low Temperature Solution Crystal Growth in Space

To investigate the microgravity effect of low temperature solution crystal growth in space, an apparatus used for crystal growth of low temperature solution has been developed. In the apparatus the hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene membrane is first used to seal a growth container by employing the water-repellent and ventilate characteristics of the membrane. When a solvent (water) leaves the growth container by evaporation, and then is absorbed by an adsorbent at the outer of the container, the crystal growth can be continuously carried out. A series of growth experiments on the ground have been performed utilizing this apparatus, and a number of α-LiIO₃ crystals with large size and good quality have been obtained. It has been confirmed that the tightness of the membrane to seal a crystallizer and the evaporation capacity of a solvent through it can meet the requirement of low temperature solution crystal growth. A good foundation has been built for future crystal growth experiment in space.