Change in the etch pit morphology of bismuth with temperature

The effect of temperature on the etch pit morphology of the (111) cleavage planes of bismuth single crystals are described. A chemical etchant which revealed the emergent ends of dislocations was used. The shape of the dislocation etch pits changes from the characteristic triangular shape at room temperature to a hexagonal shape as the etching temperature is increased to 60 °C. This change in etch pit morphology is explained in terms of the removal of atoms from steps.