Why Are There Four Edges on the Monocrystalline Silicon Rod

Monocrystalline silicon is a crystal structure arranged in a hexagonal lattice structure where each hexagon has six atoms, and each atom has four bonds connected to other atoms. Thus, the six atoms of each hexagon form a triangle consisting of six points and four lines, which is the crystal line structure of monocrystalline silicon. This is why there are ridges on the monocrystalline silicon rod.

The number of growth ridges on a monocrystalline is related to its orientation. The orientation of the monocrystalline can be determined based on the number and symmetry of growth ridges on the silicon monocrystalline cylinder.

The ridges on the surface of a monocrystal are caused by inclined {111} densely packed planes.

For silicon monocrystals oriented in the <100> direction, four symmetrical growth ridges are formed on the cylindrical crystal surface due to the intersection of four {111} planes and the cylindrical crystal.

For silicon monocrystals oriented in the <111> direction, three symmetrical growth ridges are formed on the cylindrical crystal surface due to the intersection of three {111} planes and the cylindrical crystal.

For silicon monocrystals oriented in the <110> direction, two symmetrical growth ridges are formed on the cylindrical crystal surface due to the intersection of two {111} planes and the cylindrical crystal.