Abstract
The crystal structure of silver iodide produced by an aerosol generator was studied with the aid of an X-ray diffractometer. The aerosols produced by the vaporization of a mixture of silver iodide and potassium iodide consisted of the hexagonal silver iodide (β-AgI) and some complex, such as KAg3I4. Little trace of potassium iodide was detected in the aerosols. The aerosols produced by the vaporization of an iodide ion-rich silver iodide sample consisted mainly of the hexagonal form. On the other hand, the aerosols produced from a sample with an excess of silver ion consisted mainly of the low-temperature cubic form of silver iodide (γ-AgI).
The low-temperature cubic form of silver iodide was found to be more efficient in icenucleating than the hexagonal form. The different efficiency could be explained in terms of the misfit of the crystal againt ice.
