Synthesis of Silver Halide Tabular Crystals—The Effect of the Solvent on the Stability of {111} Faces

Silver bromide crystals have been precipitated by the double-jet method. The presence of polar aprotic solvents or protic solvents with a dissociation constant smaller than water increased the ratio and size of tabular crystals in the precipitate. This is explained considering that {111} surfaces are mainly composed of halide ions and therefore charged. Organic solvents reduce the solvation of the halide ions in the solution and stabilize the surface charge. A high ionic strength greatly favored the ratio of tabular crystals and enhanced tabular growth probably by helping the formation of the double electrical layer on the charged {111} faces.