Crystal growth and morphology of LiH2PO4

Single crystals of LiH2PO4 were grown from an aqueous solution by slow evaporation method, the morphology being observed by optical and scanning electron microscopes and the crystal structure being labeled by powder X-ray diffraction. The virtual crystal was simulated in accord with the realistic crystal observed, with the following faces in the space group Pna21−C2v9 : pyramid {111}, {111¯} ; prism {110}; dome {011}, {011¯}, {201¯} ; pedion {001¯}. From comparison of the macroscopic morphology and the microscopic crystal structure, terminating groups of the top layer surfaces are suggested.

► Single crystals of LiH2PO4 were grown from an aqueous solution by slow evaporation method.
► The morphology was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopes.
► Bragg peaks in powder X-ray diffraction were labeled with Miller indices.
► The virtual crystal of LiH2PO4 was simulated in accord with the observed realistic crystal.
► The terminating groups of the top layer surfaces are suggested.