Hexagonal trumpet-like sodium hexafluorosilicate (SFS) flowers, grown on an ordered porous polystyrene film (OPPF), were prepared via a synchronous dissolution/regrowth process. Their formation process can be divided into several steps: first, the dissolution of the silica spheres induced the crystallization of SFS onto the OPPF; second, some pores emerged on the closely packed bumps when being blown by the SiF4 gas; third, when the crystal was blown by continuous gas from the pores, the span of the top became larger than that of the bottom.
Li-Guo SunZheng JinDong-Mei ZhaoShu-Hong WangCheng Wang