Study of alpha-LiIO3 single crystals grown in space

alpha-LiIO3 single crystals were grown by the aqueous solution method with a pH value from 3.6 to 12 in Chinese Scientific recoverable satellites. The morphology of the crystals grown in space is similar to that of earth-grown crystals. The growth rate of the crystals is influenced by both the pH value of solution and gravity except for the solution concentration. It is found that the growth rates of the positive and negative sides of the space-grown crystals are almost the same in a solution with pH=4.02. The perfection of both crystals grown in space and on the earth was examined by X-ray topography.