Silver halide photographic emulsions with novel grain faces (2)

Abstract

 Silver halide photographic emulsions are disclosed having radiation sensitive silver halide grains of a cubic crystal lattice structure comprised of tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to photography. More specifically, this invention is directed to photographic emulsions containing silver halide grains and to photographic elements containing these emulsions.

[0002] Silver halide photography has been practiced for more than a century. The radiation sensitive silver halide compositions initially employed for imaging were termed emulsions, since it was not originally appreciated that a solid phase was present. The term "photographic emulsion" has remained in use, although it has long been known that the radiation sensitive component is present in the form of dispersed microcrystals, typically referred to as grains.

[0003] Over the years silver halide grains have been the subject of intense investigation. Although high iodide silver halide grains, those containing at least 90 mole percent iodide, based on silver, are known and have been suggested for photographic applications, in practice photographic emulsions almost always contain silver halide grains comprised of bromide, chloride, or mixtures of chloride and bromide optionally containing minor amounts of iodide. Up to about 40 mole percent iodide, based on silver, can be accommodated in a silver bromide crystal structure without observation of a separate silver iodide phase. However, in practice silver halide emulsions rarely contain more than about 15 mole percent iodide, with iodide well below 10 mole percent being most common.

[0004] All silver halide grains, except high iodide silver halide grains, exhibit cubic crystal lattice structures. However, grains of cubic crystal lattice structures can differ markedly in appearance.

[0005] In one form silver halide grains when microscopically observed are cubic in appearance. A cubic grain 1 is shown in Figure 1. The cubic grain is bounded by six identical crystal faces. In the photographic literature these crystal faces are usually referred to as {100} crystal faces, referring to the Miller index employed for designating crystal faces. While the (100) crystal face designation is most commonly employed in connection with silver halide grains, these same crystal faces are sometimes also referred to as (200) crystal faces, the difference in designation resulting from a difference in the definition of the basic unit of the crystal structure. Although the cubic crystal shape is readily visually identified in regular grains, in irregular grains cubic crystal faces are not always square. In grains of more complex shapes the presence of cubic crystal faces can be verified by a combination of visual inspection and the 90° angle of intersection formed by adjacent cubic crystal faces.

[0006] The practical importance of the (100) crystal faces is that they present a unique surface arrangement of silver and halide ions, which in turn influences the grain surface reactions and adsorptions typically encountered in photographic applications. This unique surface arrangement of ions as theoretically hypothesized is schematically illustrated by Figure 2, wherein the smaller spheres 2 represent silver tons while the larger spheres 3 designate bromine ions. Although on an enlarged scale, the relative size and position of the silver and bromide ions is accurately represented. When chloride ions are substituted for bromide ions, the relative arrangement would remain the same, although the chloride ions are smaller than the bromide ions. It can be seen that a plurality of parallel rows, indicated by lines 4, are present, each formed by alternating silver and bromine ions. In Figure 2 a portion of the next tier of ions lying below the surface tier is shown to illustrate their relationship to the surface tier of ions.

[0007] In another form silver halide grains when microscopically observed are octahedral in appearance. An octahedral grain 5 is shown in Figure 3. The octahedral grain is bounded by eight identical crystal faces. These crystal faces are referred to as {111} crystal faces. Although the octahedral crystal shape is readily visually identified in regular grains, in irregular grains octahedral crystal faces are not always triangular. In grains of more complex shapes the presence of octahedral crystal faces can be verified by a combination of visual inspection and the 109.5° angle of intersection formed by adjacent octahedral crystal faces.

[0008] Ignoring possible ion adsorptions, octahedral crystal faces differ from cubic crystal faces in that the surface tier of ions can be theoretically hypothesized to consist entirely of silver ions or halide ions. Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a (111) crystal face, analogous to Figure 2, wherein the smaller spheres 2 represent silver ions while the larger spheres 3 designate bromine ions. Although silver ions are shown at the surface in every available lattice position, it has been suggested that having silver ions in only every other available lattice position in the surface tier of atoms would be more compatible with surface charge neutrality. Instead of a surface tier of silver ions, the surface tier of ions could alternatively be bromide ions. The tier of ions immediately below the surface silver ions consists of bromide ions.

[0009] In comparing Figures 1 and 2 with Figures 3 and 4 it is important to bear in mind that both the cubic and octahedral grains have exactly the same cuble crystal lattice structure and thus exactly the same Internal relationship of silver and halide ions. The two grains differ only in their surface crystal faces. Note that in the cubic crystal face of Figure 2 each surface silver ion lies immediately adjacent five halide ions, whereas in Figure 4 the silver ions at the octahedral crystal faces each lie immediately adjacent only three halide ions.

[0010] Much less common than either cubic or octahedral silver halide grains are rhombic dodecahedral silver halide grains. A rhombic dodecahedral grain 7 is shown in Figure 5. The rhombic dodecahedral grain is bounded by twelve identical crystal faces. These crystal faces are referred to as {110} (or, less commonly in reference to silver halide grains, (220)) crystal faces. Although the rhombic dodecahedral crystal shape is readily visually identified in regular grains, in irregular grains rhombic dodecahedral crystal faces can vary in shape. In grains of more complex shapes the presence of rhombic dodecahedral crystal faces can be verified by a combination of visual inspection and measurement of the angle of intersection formed by adjacent crystal faces.

[0011] Rhombic dodecahedral crystal faces can be theoretically hypothesized to consist of alternate rows of silver ions and halide ions. Figure 6 is a schematic illustration analogous to Figures 2 and 4, wherein it can be seen that the surface tier of ions is formed by repeating pairs of silver and bromide Ion parallel rows, indicated by lines 8a and 8b, respectively. In Figure 6 a portion of the next tier of ions lying below the surface tier is shown to illustrate their relationship to the surface tier of ions. Note that each surface silver ion lies immediately adjacent four halide ions.

[0012] Although photographic silver halide emulsions containing cubic crystal lattice structure grains are known which contain only regular cubic grains, such as the grain shown in Figure 1, regular octahedral grains, such as the grain shown in Figure 3, or, in rare instances, regular rhombic dodecahedral grains, such as the grain shown in Figure 5, in practice many other varied grain shapes are also observed. For example, silver halide grains can be cubo-octahadral-that is, formed of a combination of cubic and octahedral crystal faces. This is illustrated in Figure 7, wherein cubo-octahedral grains 9 and 10 are shown along with cubic grain 1 and octahedral grain 5. The cubo-octahedral grains have fourteen crystal faces, six cubic crystal faces and eight octahedral crystal faces. Analogous combinations of cubic and/or octahedral crystal faces and rhombic dodecahedral crystal faces are possible, though rarely encountered. Other grain shapes, such as tabular grains and rods, can be attributed to internal crystal irregularities, such as twin planes and screw dislocations. In most instances some corner or edge rounding due to solvent action is observed, and in some instances rounding is so pronounced that the grains are described as spherical.

[0013] It is known that for cubic crystal lattice structures can take any one of seven possible distinct crystallographic forms. However, for cubic crystal lattice structure silver halides only grains having (100) (cubic), (111) (octahedral), or, rarely, (110) (rhombic dodecahedral) crystal faces, individually or in combination, have been identified.

[0014] It is thus apparent that the photographic art has been limited in the crystal faces presented by silver halide grains of cubic crystal lattice structure. As a result the art has been limited in modifying photographic properties to the choice of surface sensitizers and adsorbed addenda that are workable with available crystal faces, in most instances cubic and octahedral crystal faces. This has placed restrictions on the combinations of materials that can be employed for optimum photographic performance or dictated accepting less than optimum performance.

[0015] F. C. Phillips, An Introduction to Crystal- lograph^y, 4th Ed., John Wiley & Sons, 1971, is relied upon as authority for the basic precepts and terminology of crystallography herein presented.

[0016] James, The Theory of the Photographic Process, 4th Ed., Macmillan, New York, 1977, pp. 98 through 100, is corroborative of the background of the invention described above. In addition, James at page 98 in reference to silver halide grains states that high Miller index faces are not found.

[0017] Berry, "Surface Structure and Reactivity of AgBr Dodecahedra", Photographic Science and Engineering, Vol. 19, No. 3, May/June 1975, pp. 171 and 172, illustrates silver bromide emulsions containing (110) crystal faces.

[0018] Klein et al, "Formation of Twins of AgBr and AgCl Crystals in Photographic Emulsions", Photo- graphische Korrespondenz, Vol. 99, No. 7, pp. 99-102 (1963) describes a variety of singly and doubly twinned silver halide crystals having (100) (cubic) and {111} (octahedral) crystal faces. Klein et al is of interest in illustrating the variety of shapes which twinned silver halide grains can assume while still exhibiting only (111) or {100} crystal faces.

[0019] A. P. H. Trivelli and S. E. Sheppard, The Silver Bromide Grain of Photographic Emulsions, Van Nostrand, Chapters VI and VIII, 1921, is cited for historical interest. Magnifications of 2500X and lower temper the value of these observations. Much higher resolutions of grain features are obtainable with modern electron microscopy.

[0020] W. Reinders, "Studies of Photohalide Crystals", Kolloid-Zeitschrift, Vol. 9, pp. 10-14 (1911); W. Reinders, "Study of Photohalides III Absorption of Dyes, Proteins and Other Organic Compounds in Crystalline Silver Chloride", Zeitschrift fur Ph^ysikalische Chemie, Vol. 77, pp. 677-699 (1911); Hirata et al, "Crystal Habit of Photographic Emulsion Grains", J. Photog. Soc. of Japan, Vol. 36, pp. 359-363 (1973); Locker U.S. Patent 4,183,756; and Locker et al U.S. Patent 4,225,666 illustrate teachings of modifying silver halide grain shapes through the presence of various materials present during silver halide grain formation.

[0021] It is an object of this invention to provide a silver halide photographic emulsion comprised of radiation sensitive silver halide grains of a cubic crystal lattice structure presenting crystal faces offering enhanced adsorption sites.

[0022] This object is achieved by providing a silver halide photographic emulsion having radiation sensitive silver halide grains of a cubic crystal lattice structure comprised of tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

[0023] The invention presents to the art for the first time the opportunity to realize the unique surface configuration of tetrahexahedral crystal faces In photographic silver halide emulsions. The invention thereby renders accessible for the first time a new choice of crystal faces for modifying photographic characteristics and improving interactions with sensitizers and adsorbed photographic addenda.

Description of the Drawings

[0024] 

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a regular cubic silver halide grain;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the atomic arrangement at a silver bromide cubic crystal surface;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a regular octahedral silver halide grain;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the atomic arrangement at a silver bromide octahedral crystal surface;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a regular rhombic dodecahedron;

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the atomic arrangement at a silver bromide rhombic dodecahedral crystal surface;

Figure 7 Is an isometric view of a regular cubic silver halide grain, a regular octahedral silver halide grain, and intermediate cubo-octahedral silver halide grains.

Figures 8 and 9 are front and rear isometric views of a regular (210) tetrahexahedron;

Figures 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams of the atomic arrangement at silver bromide tetrahexahedral crystal surfaces havlng Miller indices of (210) and (410), respectively; and

Figures 12 through 17 are electron micrographs of tetrahexahedral silver halide grains.

[0025] The present invention relates to silver halide photographic emulsions comprised of radiation sensitive silver halide grains of a cubic crystal lattice structure comprised of tetrahexahedral crystal faces and to photographic elements containing these emulsions.

[0026] In one form the silver halide grains can take the form of regular tetrahexahedra. A regular tetrahexahedron 11 is shown in Figures 8 and 9, which are front and back views of the same regular tetrahexahedron. A tetrahexahedron has twenty-four identical faces. Although any grouping of faces is entirely arbitrary, the tetrahexahedron can be visualized as six separate clusters of crystal faces, each cluster containing four separate faces. In Figure 8 faces 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d can be visualized as members of a first cluster of faces. A second cluster of faces is represented by faces 13a, 13b, and 13c. The fourth face of the cluster, 13d, is shown in Figure 9. Faces 14a and 14b, shown in Figure 8, and faces 14c and 14d, shown in Figure 9, represent the four faces of a third cluster of four faces. Similarly, faces 15a and 15b, shown in Figure 8, and faces 15c and 15d, shown in Figure 9, represent the four faces of a fourth cluster of four faces. Faces 16a, 16b, and 16c, shown in Figure 8, and face 16d, shown in Figure 9, complete a fifth cluster of faces. Faces 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d in Figure 9 complete the sixth cluster of faces.

[0027] Looking at the tetrahexahedron it can be seen that there are four intersections of adjacent faces within each cluster, and there is one face intersection of each cluster with each of the four clusters adjacent to it for a total of thirty-six face edge intersections. The relative angles formed by intersecting faces have only two different values. All intersections of a face from one cluster with a face from another cluster are identical, forming a first relative angle. Looking at Figure 8, the relative angle of adjacent faces 12a and 14a, 12b and 13b, 12c and 15a, and 12d and 16d are all at the identical first relative angle. All adjacent faces within each cluster intersect at the same relative angle, which Is different from the relative angle of intersection of faces in different clusters. Looking at one cluster In which all faces are fully visible, the intersections between faces 12a and 12b, 12b and 12c, 12c and 12d, and 12d and 12a are all at the same relative angle, referred to as a second relative angle. While the regular tetrahexahedron has a distinctive appearance that can be recognized by visual inspection, it should be appreciated that measurement of any one of the two relative angles provides a corroboration of adjacent tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

[0028] In crystallography measurement of relative angles of adjacent crystal faces ie employed for positive crystal face identification. Such techniques are described, for example, by Phillips, cited above. These techniques can be combined with techniques for the microscopic examination of silver halide grains to identify positively the tetrahexahedral crystal faces of silver halide grains. Techniques for preparing electron micrographs of silver halide grains are generally well known in the art, as illustrated by B.M. Spinell and C.F. Oster, "Photographic Materials", The Encyclopedia of Microscopy and Microtechnique, P. Gray, ed., Van Nostrand, N.Y., 1973, pp.427-434, note particularly the section dealing with carbon replica electron microscopy on pages 429 and 430. Employing techniques well known in electron microscopy, carbon replicas of silver halide grains are first prepared. The carbon replicas reproduce the grain shape while avoiding shape altering silver print-out that is known to result from employing the silver halide grains without carbon shells. An electron scanning beam rather than light is employed for imaging to permit higher ranges of magnification to be realized than when light is employed. When the grains are sufficiently spread apart that adjacent grains are not impinging, the grains lie flat on one crystal face rather than on a coign (i.e., a point). By tilting the sample being viewed relative to the electron beam a selected grain can be oriented so that the line of sight is substantially parallel to both the line of intersection of two adjacent crystal faces, seen as a point, and each of the two intersecting crystal faces, seen as edges. When the grain faces are parallel to the imaging electron beam, the two corresponding edges of the grain which they define will appear sharper than when the faces are merely close to being parallel. Once the desired grain orientation with two intersecting crystal faces presenting a parallel edge to the electron beam is obtained, the angle of intersection can be measured from an electron micrograph of the oriented grain. In this way adjacent tetrahexahedral crystal faces can be identified. Relative angles of tetrahexahedral and adjacent crystal faces of other Miller indices can also be determined in the same way. Again, the unique relative angle allows a positive Identification of the crystal faces. While relative angle measurements can be definitive, in many, if not most, instances visual inspection of grains by electron microscopy allows immediate identification of tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

[0029] Referring to the mutually perpendicular x, y, and z axes of a cubic crystal lattice, it is well recognized in the art that cubic crystal faces are parallel to two of the axes and intersect the third, thus the {100} Miller index assignment; octahedral crystal faces intersect each of the three axes at an equal interval, thus the (111) Miller index assignment; and rhombic dodecahedral crystal faces intersect two of the three axes at an equal interval and are parallel to the third axis, thus the (1.10) Miller index assignment. For a given definition of the basic crystal unit, there is one and only one Miller index assignment for each of cubic, octahedral, and rhombic dodecahedral crystal faces.

[0030] Tetrahexahedral crystal faces include a family of crystal faces that can have differing Miller index values. Tetrahexahedral crystal faces are generically designated as {hx0} crystal faces, wherein h and k are different integers each greater than 0, which is zero and not to be confused with the letter 0. The regular tetrahexahedron 11 shown In Figures 8 and 9 consists of (210) crystal faces, which corresponds to the lowest value that h, k, and 0 can each represent. A regular tetrahexahedron having {310}, {320}, (410), {430}, (510), {520},
{530}, or {540} crystal faces would appear similar to the tetrahexahedron 11, but the higher Miller indices would result in changes in the angles of intersection. Although there is no theoretical limit on the maximum values of the integers h and k, tetrahexahedral crystal faces having a value of h or k of 5 or less are more easily generated. For this reason, silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces of the exemplary Miller index values identified above are preferred. With practice one tetrahexahedral crystal face can often be distinguished visually from another of a different Miller index value. Measurement of relative angles permits positive corroboration of the specific Miller index value tetrahexahedral crystal faces present.

[0031] In one form the emulsions of this invention contain silver halide grains which are bounded entirely by tetrahexahedral crystal faces, thereby forming basically regular tetrahexahedra. In practice although some edge rounding of the grains is usually present, the unrounded residual flat tetrahexahedral faces permit positive identification, since a sharp intersecting edge is unnecessary to establishing the relative angle of adjacent tetrahexahedral crystal faces. Sighting to orient the grains is still possible employing the residual flat crystal face portions.

[0032] The radiation sensitive silver halide grains present in the emulsions of this invention are not confined to those in which the tetrahexahedral crystal faces are the only flat crystal faces present. Just as cubo-octahedral silver halide grains, such as 9 and 10, exhibit both cubic and octahedral crystal faces and Berry, cited above, reports grains having cubic, octahedral, and rhombic dodecahedral crystal faces in a single grain, the radiation sensitive grains herein contemplated can be formed by tetrahexahedral crystal faces in combination with any one or combination of the other types of crystal faces possible with a silver halide cubic crystal lattice structure. For example, if conventional silver halide grains having cubic, octahedral, and/or rhombic dodecahedral crystal faces are employed as host grains for the preparation of silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces, stopping silver halide deposition onto the host grains before the original crystal faces have been entirely overgrown by silver halide under conditions favoring tetrahexahedral crystal face formation results in both tetrahexahedral crystal faces and residual crystal faces corresponding to those of the original host grain being present.

[0033] In another variant form deposition of silver halide onto host grains under conditions which favor tetrahexahedral crystal faces can initially result in ruffling of the grain surfaces. Under close examination it has been observed that the ruffles are provided by protrusions from the host grain surface. Protrusions in the form of ridges have been observed, but protrusions, when present, are more typically in the form of pyramids. Pyramids presenting tetrahexahedral crystal faces on host grains initially presenting {100} crystal faces have four surface faces. These correspond to the four faces of any one of the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17 series clusters described above in connection with the tetrahexahedron 11. When the host grains initially present (111) crystal faces, pyramids bounded by six surface faces are formed. Turning to Figure 8, the apex of the pyramid corresponds to the coign formed faces 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b, 14a, and 14b. The protrusions, whether in the form of ridges or pyramids, can within a short time of initiating precipitation onto the host grains substantially cover the original host grain surface. If silver halide deposition is continued after the entire grain surface is bounded by tetrahexahedral crystal faces, the protrusions become progressively larger and eventually the grains lose their ruffled appearance as they present larger and larger tetrahexahedral crystal faces. It is possible to grow a regular tetrahexahedron from a ruffled grain by continuing silver halide deposition.

[0034] Even when the grains are not ruffled and bounded entirely by tetrahexahedral crystal faces, the grains can take overall shapes differing from regular tetrahexahedrons. This can result, for example, from Irregularities, such as twin planes, present in the host grains prior to growth of the tetrahexahedral crystal faces or introduced during growth of the hexoctahedral crystal faces.

[0035] The important feature to note is that if any crystal face of a silver halide grain is a tetrahexahedral crystal face, the resulting grain presents a unique arrangement of surface silver and halide ions that differs from that presented by all other possible crystal faces for cubic crystal lattice structure silver halides. This unique surface arrangement of ions as theoretically hypothesized is schematically illustrated by Figure 10, wherein a (210) tetrahexahedral crystal face is shown formed by silver ions 2 and bromide ions 3. Comparing Figure 10 with Figures 2, 4, and 6, it is apparent that the surface positioning of silver and bromide ions in each figure is distinctive. The (210) tetrahexahedral crystal face presents an ordered, but more varied arrangement of surface silver and bromide ions than is presented at the cubic, octahedral, or rhombic dodecahedral silver bromide crystal faces. This is the result of the tiering that occurs at the (210) tetrahexahedral crystal face. Tetrahexahedral crystal faces with differing Miller indices also exhibit tiering. The differing Miller indices result in analogous, but nevertheless unique surface arrangements of silver and halide ions. The difference between tetrahexahedral crystal faces of differing Miller indices is illustrated by comparing Figure 10, which is a hypothetical schematic diagram of a (210) crystal face, and Figure 11, which is a corresponding diagram of a (410) crystal face.

[0036] While Figures 2, 4, 6, 10, and 11 all contain bromide ions as the sole halide ions, it is appreciated that the same observations as to differences in the crystal faces obtain when each wholly or partially contains chloride ions instead. Although chloride ions are substantially smaller in effective diameter than bromide ions, a tetrahexahedral crystal surface presented by silver chloride Ions would be similar to the corresponding silver and bromide ion surfaces.

[0037] The cubic crystal lattice structure silver halide grains containing tetrahexahedral crystal faces can contain minor amounts of iodide ions, similarly as conventional silver halide grains. Iodide ions have an effective diameter substantially larger than that of bromide ions. As is well known in silver halide crystallography, this has a somewhat disruptive effect on the order of the crystal structure, which can be accommodated and actually employed photographically to advantage, provided the iodide ions are limited in concentration. Preferably iodide ion concentrations below 15 mole percent and optimally below 10 mole percent, based on silver, are employed in the practice of this invention. Iodide ion concentrations of up to 40 mole percent, based on silver, can be present in silver bromide crystals. Since Iodide ions as the sole halide ions in silver halide do not form a cubic crystal lattice structure, their use alone has no applicability to this invention.

[0038] It is appreciated that the larger the proportion of the total silver halide grain surface area accounted for by tetrahexahedral crystal faces the more distinctive the silver halide grains become. In most instances the tetrahexahedral crystal faces account for at least 50 percent of the total surface area of the silver halide grains. Where the grains are regular, the tetrahexahedral crystal faces can account for all of the flat crystal faces observable, the only remaining grain surfaces being attributable to edge rounding. In other words, silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces accounting for at least 90 percent of the total grain surface area are contemplated.

[0039] It is, however, appreciated that distinctive photographic effects may be realized even when the tetrahexahedral crystal faces are limited in areal extent. For example, where in an emulsion containing the silver halide grains a photographic addendum is present that shows a marked adsorption preference for a tetrahexahedral crystal face, only a limited percentage of the total grain surface may be required to produce a distinctive photographic effect. Generally, if any tetrahexahedral crystal face is observable on a silver halide grain, it accounts for a sufficient proportion of the total surface area of the silver halide grain to be capable of influencing photographic performance. Stated another way, by the time a tetrahexahedral crystal face becomes large enough to be identified by its relative angle to adjacent crystal faces, it is already large enough to be capable of influencing photographic performance. Thus, the minimum proportion of total grain surface area accounted for by tetrahexahedral crystal faces ts limited only by the observer's ability to detect the presence of tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

[0040] The successful formation of tetrahexahedral crystal faces on silver halide grains of a cubic crystal lattice structure depends on identifying silver halide grain growth conditions that retard the surface growth rate on tetrahexahedral crystal planes. It is generally recognized in silver halide crystallography that the predominant crystal faces of a silver halide grain are determined by choosing grain growth conditions that are least favorable for the growth of that crystal face. For example, regular cubic silver halide grains, such as grain 1, are produced under grain growth conditions that favor more rapid deposition of silver and halide ions on all other available crystal faces than on the cubic crystal faces. Referring to Figure 7, if an octahedral grain, such as regular octahedral grain 5 is subjected to growth under conditions that least favor deposition of silver and halide ions onto cubic crystal faces, grain 5 during continued silver halide precipitation will progress through the intermediate cubo-octahedr.al grain forms 9 and 10 before reaching the final cubic grain configuration 1. Once only cubic crystal faces remain, then silver and halide ions deposit isotropically on these surfaces. In other words, the grain shape remains cubic, and the cubic grains merely grow larger as additional silver and halide ions are precipitated.

[0041] By analogy, grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces have been prepared by introducing into a silver halide precipitation reaction vessel host grains of conventional crystal faces, such as cubic grains, while maintaining growth conditions to favor retarding silver halide deposition along tetrahexahedral crystal faces. As silver halide precipitation continues tetrahexahedral crystal faces first become identifiable and then expand in area until eventually, if precipitation is continued, they account for all of the crystal faces of the silver halide grains being grown. Since tetrahexahedral crystal faces accept additional silver halide deposition at a slow rate, renucleation can occur, creating a second grain population. Precipitation conditions can be adjusted by techniques generally known in the art to favor either continued grain growth or renucleation.

[0042] Failure of the art to observe tetrahexahedral crystal faces for silver halide grains over decades of intense investigation as evidenced by published silver halide crystallographic studies suggests that there is not an extensive range of conditions that favor the selective retarding of silver halide deposition along tetrahexahedral crystal faces. It has been discovered that growth modifiers can be employed to retard silver halide deposition selectively at tetrahexahedral crystal faces, thereby producing these tetrahexahedral crystal faces as the external surfaces of the silver halide grains being formed. The growth modifiers which have been Identified are organic compounds. They are believed to be effective by reason of showing an adsorption preference for a tetrahexahedral crystal face by reason of its unique arrangement of silver and halide ions. Growth modifiers that have been empirically proven to be effective in producing tetrahexahedral crystal faces are described in the examples, below.

[0043] These growth modifiers are effective under the conditions of their use in the examples. From empirical screening of a variety of candidate growth modifiers under differing conditions of silver halide precipitation it has been concluded that multiple parameters must be satisfied to achieve tetrahexahedral crystal faces, including not only the proper choice of a growth modifier, but also proper choice of other precipitation parameters identified in the examples. Failures to achieve tetrahexahedral crystal faces with compounds shown to be effective as growth modifiers for producing tetrahexahedral crystal faces have been observed when accompanying conditions for silver halide precipitation have been varied. However, it is appreciated that having demonstrated success in the preparations of silver halide emulsions containing grains with tetrahexahedral crystal faces, routine empirical studies systematically varying parameters are likely to lead to additional useful preparation techniques.

[0044] Once silver halide grain growth conditions are satisfied that selectively retard silver halide deposition at tetrahexahedral crystal faces, continued grain growth usually results in tetrahexahedral crystal faces appearing on all the grains present in the silver halide precipitation reaction vessel. It does not follow, however, that all of the radiation sensitive silver halide grains in the emulsions of the present invention must have tetrahexahedral crystal faces. For example, silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces can be blended with any other conventional silver halide grain population to produce the final emulsion. While silver halide emulsions containing any identifiable tetrahexahedral crystal face grain surface are considered within the scope of this invention, in most applications the grains having at least one identifiable tetrahexahedral crystal face account for at least 10 percent of the total grain population and usually these grains will account for greater than 50 percent of the total grain population.

[0045] The emulsions of this invention can be substituted for conventional emulsions to satisfy known photographic applications. In addition, the emulsions of this invention can lead to unexpected photographic advantages.

[0046] For example, when a growth modifier is present adsorbed to the tetrahexahedral crystal faces of the grains and has a known photographic utility that is enhanced by adsorption to a grain surface, either because of the more intimate association with the grain surface or because of the reduced mobility of the growth modifier, improved photographic performance can be expected. The reason for this is that for the growth modifier to produce a tetrahexahedral crystal face it must exhibit an adsorption preference for the tetrahexahedral crystal face that is greater than that exhibited for any other possible crystal face. This can be appreciated by considering growth in the presence of an adsorbed growth modifier of a silver halide grain having both cubic and tetrahexahedral crystal faces. If the growth modifier shows an adsorption preference for the tetrahexahedral crystal faces over the cubic crystal faces, deposition of silver and halide ions onto the tetrahexahedral crystal faces is retarded to a greater extent than along the cubic crystal faces, and grain growth results in the elimination of the cubic crystal faces in favor of tetrahexahedral crystal faces. From the foregoing it is apparent that growth modifiers which produce tetrahexahedral crystal faces are more tightly adsorbed to these grain surfaces than to other silver halide grain surfaces during grain growth, and this enhanced adsorption carries over to the completed emulsion.

[0047] To provide an exemplary photographic application, Locker U.S. Patent 3,989,527 describes improving the speed of a photographic element by employing an emulsion containing radiation sensitive silver halide grains having a spectral sensitizing dye adsorbed to the grain surfaces in combination with silver halide grains free of spectral sensitizing dye having an average diameter chosen to maximize light scattering, typically in the 0.15 to 0.8 vm range. Upon imagewise exposure radiation striking the undyed grains is scattered rather than being absorbed. This results in an increased amount of exposing radiation striking the radiation sensitive imaging grains having a spectral sensitizing dye adsorbed to their surfaces.

[0048] A disadvantage encountered with this approach has been that spectral sensitizing dyes can migrate in the emulsion, so that to some extent the initially undyed grains adsorb spectral sensitizing dye which has migrated from the initially spectrally sensitized grains. To the extent that the initially spectrally sensitized grains were optimally sensitized, dye migration away from their surfaces reduces sensitizatlon. At the same time, adsorption of dye on the grains intended to scatter imaging radiation reduces their scattering efficiency.

[0049] In the examples below it is to be noted that a specific spectral sensitizing dye has been Identified as a growth modifier useful in forming silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces. When radiation sensitive silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces and a growth modifier spectral sensitizing dye adsorbed to the tetrahexahedral crystal faces are substituted for the spectrally sensitized silver halide grains employed by Locker, the disadvantageous migration of dye from the tetrahexahedral crystal faces to the silver halide grains intended to scatter light is reduced or eliminated. Thus, an improvement in photographic efficiency can be realized.

[0050] To illustrate another advantageous photographic application, the layer structure of a multicolor photographic element which introduces dye image providing materials, such as couplers, during processing can be simplified. An emulsion intended to record green exposures can be prepared using a growth modifier that is a green spectral sensitizing dye while an emulsion intended to record red exposures can be prepared using a growth modifier that is a red spectral sensitizing dye. Since the growth modifiers are tightly adsorbed to the grains and non-wandering, instead of coating the green and red emulsions in separate color forming layer units, as Is conventional practice, the two emulsions can be blended and coated as a single color forming layer unit. The blue recording layer can take any conventional form, and a conventional yellow filter layer can be employed to protect the blended green and red recording emulsions from blue light exposure. Except for blending the green and red recording emulsions in a single layer or group of layers differing in speed in a single color forming layer unit, the structure and processing of the photographic element is unaltered. If silver chloride emulsions are employed, the approach described above can be extended to blending in a single color forming layer unit blue, green, and red recording emulsions, and the yellow filter layer can be eliminated. The advantage in either case is a reduction in the number of emulsion layers required as compared to a corresponding conventional multicolor photographic element.

[0051] In more general applications, the substitution of an emulsion according to the invention containing a growth modifier spectral sensitizing dye should produce a more invariant emulsion in terms of spectral properties than a corresponding emulsion containing silver halide grains lacking tetrahexahedral crystal faces. Where the growth modifier is capable of spectral sensitlzation, such as the dyes shown to be effective growth modifiers in the examples, more effective spectral sensitization at lower concentrations may be expected. It is recognized that a variety of photographic effects, such as photographic sensitivity., minimum background density levels, latent image stability, nucleation, developability, image tone, absorption, and reflectivity, are influenced by grain surface interactions with other components. By employing components, such as peptizers, silver halide solvents, sensitizers or desensitizers, supersensitizers, halogen acceptors, dyes, antifoggants, stabilizers, latent image keeping agents, nucleating agents, tone modifiers, development accelerators or inhibitors, development restrainers, developing agents, and other addenda that are unlquely matched to the tetrahexahedral crystal surface, distinct advantages in photographic performance over that which can be realized with silver halide grains of differing crystal faces are possible.

[0052] The silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces can be varied in their properties to satisfy varied known photographic applications as desired. Generally the techniques for producing surface latent image forming grains, internal latent image forming grains, internally fogged grains, surface fogged grains, and blends of differing grains described in Research Disclosure, Vol. 176, December 1918, Item 17643, Section I, can be applied to the preparation of emulsions according to this invention. Research Disclosure is published by Kenneth Mason Publications, Ltd., Emsworth, Hampshire P010 7DD, England. The silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces can have silver salt deposits on their surfaces, if desired. Selective site silver salt deposits on host silver halide grains are taught by Maskasky U.S. Patents 4,463,087 and 4,471,050, here incorporated by reference.

[0053] The growth modifier used to form the tetrahexahedral crystal faces of the silver halide grains can be retained in the emulsion, adsorbed to the grain faces, displaced from the grain faces or destroyed entirely. For example, where, as noted above, the growth modifier is also capable of acting as a spectral sensitizing dye or performing some other useful function, it is advantageous to retain the growth modifier in the emulsion. Where the growth modifier is not relied upon to perform an additional useful photographic function, its presence in the emulsion can be reduced or eliminated, if desired, once its intended function is performed. This approach is advantageous where the growth modifier is at all disadvantageous in the environment of use. The growth modifier can itself be modified by chemical interactions, such as oxidation, hydrolysis, or addition reactions, accomplished with reagents such as bromine water, base, or acid―e.g., nttric, hydrochloric, or sulfuric acid.

[0054] Apart from the novel grain structures identified above, the radiation sensitive silver halide emulsions and the photographic elements in which they are Incorporated of this invention can take any convenient conventional form. The emulsions can be washed as described in Research Disclosure, Item 11643, cited above, Section II.

[0055] The radiation sensitive silver halide grains of the emulsions can be surface chemically sensitized. Noble metal (e.g., gold), middle chalcogen (e.g., sulfur, selenium, or tellurium), and reduction sensitizers, employed individually or in combination are specifically contemplated. Typical chemical sensitizers are listed in Research Disclosure, Item 17643, cited above, Section III. From comparisons of surface halide and silver ion arrangements in general the chemical sensitization response of silver halide grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces should be analogous, but not identical, to that of cubic and octahedral silver halide grains. That observation can be extended to emulsion addenda generally which adsorb to grain surfaces.

[0056] The silver halide emulsions can be spectrally sensitized with dyes from a variety of classes, including the polymethine dye class, which includes the cyanines, merocyanines, complex cyanines and merocyanines (i.e., tri-, tetra-, and polynuclear cyanines and merocyanines), oxonols, hemioxonols, styryls, merostyryls, and streptocyanines. Illustrative spectral sensitizing dyes are disclosed in Research Disclosure, Item 176.43, cited above, Section IV.

[0057] The silver halide emulsions as well as other layers of the photographic elements of this invention can contain as vehicles hydrophilic colloids, employed alone or in combination with other polymeric materials (e.g., latices). Suitable hydrophilic materials include both naturally occurring substances such as proteins, protein derivatives, cellulose derivatives―e.g., cellulose esters, gelatin―e.g., alkali treated gelatin (cattle, bone, or hide gelatin) or acid treated gelatin (pigskin gelatin), gelatin derivatives―e.g., acetylated gelatin, phthalated gelatin, and the like, polysaccharides such as dextran, gum arabic, zein, casein, pectin, collagen derivatives, collodion, agar-agar, arrowroot, and albumin. It is specifically contemplated to employ hydrophilic colloids which contain a low proportion divalent sulfur atoms. The proportion of divalent sulfur atoms can be reduced by treating the hydrophilic colloid with a strong oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide. Among preferred hydrophilic colloids for use as peptizers for the emulsions of this invention are gelatino-peptizers which contain less than 30 micromoles of methionine per gram. The vehicles can be hardened by conventional procedures. Further details of the vehicles and hardeners are provided in Research Disclosure, Item 17643, cited above, Sections IX and X.

[0058] The silver halide photographic elements of this invention can contain other addenda conventional in the photographic art. Useful addenda are described, for example, in Research Disclosure, Item 17643, cited above. Other conventional useful addenda include antifoggants and stabilizers, couplers (such as dye forming couplers, masking couplers and DIR couplers) DIR compounds, anti-stain agents, image dye stabilizers, absorbing materials such as filter dyes and UV absorbers, light scattering materials, antistatic agents, coating aids, and plasticizers and lubricants.

[0059] The photographic elements of the present invention can be simple black-and-white or monochrome elements comprising a support bearing a layer of the silver halide emulsion, or they can be multilayer and/or multicolor elements. The photographic elements produce images ranging from low contrast to very high contrast, such as those employed for producing half tone images in graphic arts. They can be designed for processing with separate solutions or for in-camera processing. In the latter instance the photographic elements can include conventional image transfer features, such as those illustrated by Research Disclosure, Item 17643, cited above, Section XXIII. Multicolor elements contain dye image forming units sensitive to each of the three primary regions of the spectrum. Each unit can be comprised of a single emulsion layer or of multiple emulsion layers sensitive to a given region of the spectrum. The layers of the element, including the layers of the image forming units, can be arranged in various orders as known in the art. In an alternative format, the emulsion or emulsions can be disposed as one or more segmented layers, e.g., as by the use of mlcrovessels or microcells, as described in Whitmore U.S. Patent 4,387,154.

[0060] A preferred multicolor photographic element according to this invention containing incorporated dye Image providing materials comprises a support bearing at least one blue sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a yellow dye forming coupler, at least one green sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a magenta dye forming coupler, and at least one red sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a cyan dye forming coupler, at least one of the silver halide emulsion layers containing grains having tetrahexahedral crystal faces as previously described.

[0061] The elements of the present invention can contain additional layers conventional in photographic elements, such as overcoat layers, spacer layers, filter layers, antihalation layers, and scavenger layers. The support can be any suitable support used with photographic elements. Typical supports include polymeric films, paper (including polymer-coated paper), glass, and metal supports. Details regarding supports and other layers of the photographic elements of this invention are contained in Research Disclosure, Item 17643, cited above, Section XVII.

[0062] The photographic elements can be imagewise exposed with various forms of energy, which encompass the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum as well as electron beam and beta radiation, gamma ray, X ray, alpha particle, neutron radiation, and other forms of corpuscular and wave-like radiant energy in either noncoherent (random phase) forms or coherent (in phase) forms, as produced by lasers. When the photographic elements are intended to be exposed by X rays, they can include features found in conventional radiographic elements, such as those illustrated by Research Disclosure, Vol. 184, August 1979, Item 18431.

[0063] Processing of the imagewise exposed photographic elements can be accomplished in any convenient conventional manner. Processing procedures, developing agents, and development modifiers are illustrated by Research Disclosure, 'Item 17643, cited above, Sections XIX, XX, and XXI, respectively.

Examples

[0064] The invention can be better appreciated by reference to the following specific examples. In each of the examples the term "percent" means percent by weight, unless otherwise indicated, and all solutions, unless otherwise indicated, are aqueous solutions. Dilute nitric acid or dilute sodium hydroxide was employed for pH adjustment, as required.

Example 1

[0065] This example illustrates the preparation in the presence of ammonia of a tetrahexahedral silver bromide emulsion having the Miller index (210), beginning with a cubic host emulsion.

[0066] To a reaction vessel supplied with a stirrer was added 0.5 g. of deionized bone gelatin dissolved in 28.5 g. of water. To this was added 0.05 mole of a cubic silver bromide emulsion of mean grain size 0.8µm containing about 10 g/Ag mole of gelatin and having a total weight of 21.6 g. The emulsion was heated to 40°C, and 3.0 millimoles/Ag mole of Dye I dissolved in 2.5 mL. water was added. The mixture was held at 40°C for 15 min.

[0067] Just prior to beginning the precipitation, 3.4 millimoles of an aqueous (NH₄)₂SO₄ solution (1.0 mL) was added, followed by 25.9 millimoles of ammonium hydroxide (1.75 mL) and 0.25 millimoles of KBr solution (0.5 mL). The pAg was measured as 9.3 at 40°C, and was maintained through the precipitation. At 40°C a 2.5M solution of AgNO₃ was added at a constant flow rate along with a 2.5M solution of KBr, which was added as necessary to maintain the pAg. The precipitation consumed 0.0175 mole Ag in 35 min. The pH was then slowly adjusted to 5.5.

[0068] A carbon replica electron micrograph (Figure 12) shows Emulsion 1 to have tetrahexahedral faces. The Miller index of the tetrahexahedral faces was determined by measurement of the relative angle between two adjacent tetrahexahedral crystal faces. From thls angle, the supplement of the relative angle, which is the angle between their respective crystallographic vectors, φ, could be obtained, and the Miller index of the adjacent tetrahexahedral crystal faces was identified by comparison of this angle φ with the theoretical intersecting angle 6 between [h₁k₁0₁] and [h₂k₂0_2] vectors. The angle 6 was calculated as described by Phillips, cited above, at pages 218 and 219.

[0069] To obtain the angle φ, a carbon replica of the crystal sample was rotated on the stage of an electron microscope until, for a chosen crystal, the angle of observation was directly along the line of intersection of the two adjacent crystal faces of interest. An electron micrograph was then made, and the relative angle was measured on the micrograph with a protractor. The supplement of the measured relative angle was the angle φ between vectors. Comparison of φ with 6 enabled the crystal faces to be assigned. If the experimentally determined angle was nearly mld-way between two theoretical angles, the one associated with the lower Miller index was used for the assignment. The results for Emulsion 1 were as follows. The number of measurements made Is given in parentheses. Theoretical values for vectors up to (540) were considered.

[0070] Emulsion 1 is thus composed of regular tetrahexahedra showing (210) faces.

Example 2

[0071] This example illustrates the preparation under non-ammoniacal conditions of a silver bromide emulsion having grains with Miller index (410) crystal faces beginning with a cubic host emulsion.

[0072] To a reaction vessel supplied with a stirrer was added 0.05 mole of the same host emulsion as used in Example 1 (about 10 g/Ag mole gelatin) made up to 50 g. with water. To this was added 2 millimoles/Ag mole of Dye II dissolved in 2 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide.

[0073] The mixture was held at 40°C for 15 min. The pH was adjusted to 6.0 at 40°C, and the emulsion was heated to 60°C. The pAg was adjusted to 8.5 at 60°C with KBr and maintained at that value during the precipitation. A 2.0 M solution of AgNO₃ and a 2.0 M solution of KBr were then simultaneously added over a period of 50 min. The AgN0₃ solution was added at a constant rate and 0.01 moles Ag were added.

[0074] Figure 13 is an electron micrograph of the resulting emulsion, showing the crystals to have a regular tetrahexahedral habit. The Miller index, determined as described for Example 1, was found to be (410).

Example 3

[0075] This example illustrates the preparation of another tetrahexahedral emulsion having a {410} Miller index, but using a different growth modifier. The emulsion was prepared as described for Example 2, but for Dye II was substituted Dye III, 4 millimoles/Ag mole, dissolved in 3 mL. water. The precipitation was carried out for 50 min. at a rate consuming 0.02 mole Ag.

[0076] Figure 14 is an electron micrograph of Emulsion 3 showing the crystals to have a regular tetrahexahedral habit. The Miller index was determined as described in Example 1 and found to be {410}.

Example 4

[0077] Example 4 illustrates the preparation of a silver bromide tetrahexahedral emulsion having a (410) Miller index by the Ostwald ripening of a Lippmann emulsion onto a mixture of cubic and octahedral host grains in the presence of a growth modifier.

[0078] To a reaction vessel was added 32.5 g. (7.5 millimole) of a freshly prepared AgBr Lippmann emulsion of mean grain size 0.02µm and containing 167 g/Ag mole of gelatin. At 35°C, 0.09 millimole of Dye IV Ln 2 mL of methanol containing 2 drops of triethylamine was added.

Then 3.0 ml, 7.5 millimoles of AgBr consisting of a mixture of two emulsions containing approximately equal numbers of cubes (0.8µm mean size; 10 g/Ag mole gelatin) and octahedra (0.8µm mean size; 10 g/Ag mole gelatin) was added. The pH was adjusted to 6.0 at 40°C, and the pAg to 9.3 with KBr solution. The mixture was then heated to 60°C and stirred at that temperature for 19 hrs.

[0079] Figure 15 is an electron micrograph of the resulting emulsion, showing the crystals to have a regular tetrahexahedral habit. The Miller index was determined to be (410).

Example 5

[0080] Example 5 illustrates the preparation of a silver bromide tetrahexahedral emulsion by Ostwald ripening, but using Dye III instead of Dye IV as growth modifier.

[0081] The emulsion of Example 5 was prepared as described for Example 4, but using as growth modifier 0.09 millimole of Dye III dissolved in 3 mL of methanol, 1 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide, and 2 drops of triethylamine. An electron micrograph of the resulting emulsion is shown in Figure 16. The habit is a regular tetrahexahedron, with (410) faces.

Example 6

[0082] This example illustrates the preparation of a tetrahexadral silver chloride emulsion having the Miller index {410}.

[0083] To a reaction vessel supplied with a stirrer was added 0.05 mole of a cubic silver chloride emulsion of mean grain size 0.65 µm and containing 40 g/Ag mole gelatin. Water was added to make the total weight 48 g. To the emulsion at 40°C was added 2.0 milllmole/Ag mole of Dye III dissolved in 2 mL of water. The emulsion was then held for 15 min. at 40°C. The temperature was then raised to 50°C. The pH was adjusted to 5.92 at 50°C and maintained at this value during the precipitation by NaOH addition. The pAg was adjusted to 7.9 at 50°C with NaCl solution and maintained during the precipitation. A 1.5M solution of AgNO₃ was introduced at a constant rate over a period of 500 min., while a 2.7M solution of NaCl was added as needed to hold the pAg constant. A total of 0.075 mole Ag was added.

[0084] An electron micrograph of the resulting tetrahexahedral emulsion grains is shown in Figure 17. The habit was a regular tetrahexahedron, and the Miller index was determined to be {410}.

Example 7

[0085] This example illustrates additional growth modifiers capable of producing tetrahexahedral crystal faces and lists potential growth modifiers investigated, but not observed to produce tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

[0086] The grain growth procedures employed were of three different types:

A. The first grain growth procedure was as follows: To a reaction vessel supplied with a stirrer was added 0.5 g of bone gelatin dissolved in 28.5 g of water. To this was added 0.05 mole of silver bromide host grain emulsion of mean grain size 0.8µm, containing about lOg/Ag mole gelatin, and having a total weight of 21.6 g. The emulsion was heated to 40°C, and 6.0 millimoles/Ag mole of dissolved growth modifier were added. The mixture was held for 15 min. at 40°C. The pH was adjusted to 6.0 at 40°C. The emulsion was then heated to 60°C, and the pAg was adjusted to 8.5 at 60°C with KBr and maintained at that value during the precipitation. The pH, which shifted to 5.92 at 60°C, was held at that value thereafter. A 2.5M solution of AgNO₃ and a 2.5M solution of KBr were then introduced with a constant silver addition rate over a period of 125 min., consuming 0.0625 mole Ag.

B. The second grain growth procedure was as follows: To a reaction vessel supplied with a stirrer was added 27.5 mL of water. To this was added 0.05 mole of a silver bromide host grain emulsion of mean grain size 0.8 µm, containing about 10 g/Ag mole of gelatin and having a total weight of 21.6 g. The emulsion was heated to 40"C, and 3.0 millimole/initial Ag mole of dissolved growth modifier was added. The mixture was held at 40°C for 15 min. Just prior to beginning the precipitation 3.4 millimoles of an aqueous (NH₄)₂SO₄ solution (1.0 mL), containing also 0.25 millimole of KBr, was added, followed by 25.9 millimoles of ammonium hydroxide (2.0 mL). The pAg was measured as 9.3 at 40°C and was maintained at that level throughout the precipitation. At 40°C a 2.5M solution of AgN0₃ was added at a constant flow rate along with a 2.5M solution of KBr, the latter being added at the rate necessary to maintain the pAg. The precipitation consumed 0.05 mole Ag over a period of 100 min. The pH was then slowly adjusted to 5.5.

[0087] In the first and second procedures cubic or octahedral host grains were employed as noted in Table I. Small samples of emulsion were withdrawn at intervals during the precipitation for electron microscope examination, any tetrahexahedral crystal faces revealed in such samples are reported in Table I.

C. The third grain growth procedure employed 7.5 millimoles of a freshly prepared very fine grain (approximately 0.02 um) AgBr emulsion to which was added 0.09 millimole of growth modifier. In this process these very fine AgBr grains were dissolved and reprecipitated onto the host grains. The host grain emulsion contained 0.8 µm AgBr grains. A 7.5 millimole portion of the host grain emulsion was added to the very fine grain emulsion. A pH of 6.0 and pAg of 9.3 at 40° C was employed. The mixture was stirred at 60° C for about 19 hours.

[0088] The crystal faces presented by the host grains are as noted in Table I. Where both octahedral and cubic host grains are noted using the same growth modifier, a mixture of 5.0 millimoles cubic grains of 0.8 µm and 2.5 millimoles of octahedral grains of 0.8 µm was employed giving approximately the same number of cubic and octahedral host grains. In looking at the grains produced by ripening, those produced by ripening onto the cubic grains were readily visually distinguished, since they were larger. Thus, it was possible in one ripening process to determine the crystal faces produced using both cubic and octahedral host grains.

[0089] Differences in individual procedures are indicated by footnote. The {hk0} surface column of Table I refers to those surfaces which satisfy the definition above for tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

Example 8

[0090] This example illustrates the modification of a growth modifier used to prepare an emulsion according to the invention containing grains with tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

[0091] Two emulsions according to the invention containing grains with tetrahexahedral crystal faces were prepared using preparation procedures similar to that described in Example 1. Emulsion A consisted of pure silver bromide tetrahexahedral grains while Emulsion B consisted of silver bromoiodide (2.5 mole percent iodide) tetrahexahedral grains.

[0092] Both Emulsions A and B were pink in color, the color being attributable to Dye I (see Example 1) employed as a growth modifier during their preparation. To each emulsion bromine water was added with stirring. With the addition of the bromine water the pink color completely disappeared, leaving only a yellow color expected for the emulsions absent the presence of a spectral sensitizing dye.

[0093] Beyond illustrating how a growth modifier can be effectively destroyed within an emulsion according to the invention after its preparation, the example more specifically illustrates that spectral sensitizing dye employed as a growth modifier can be destroyed after emulsion preparation, if desired. By destuction of the spectral sensitizer, the emulsion is placed in a form in which it retains only its native spectral sensitivity, as is desirable for many known photographic applications. Alternatively, once the spectral sensitizing dye employed as a growth modifier has been effectively destroyed, another spectral sensitizing dye can be adsorbed to the grain surfaces.

Claims

1. A silver halide photographic emulsion having radiation sensitive silver halide grains of a cubic crystal lattice structure comprised of tetrahexahedral crystal faces.

2. A silver halide photographic emulsion according to claim 1 wherein said silver halide grains comprised of tetrahexahedral crystal faces are silver bromide grains.

3. A silver halide photographic emulsion according to claim 1 wherein said silver halide grains comprised of tetrahexahedral crystal faces are silver chloride grains.

4. A silver halide photographic emulsion according to claim 1 wherein said silver halide grains comprised of tetrahexahedral crystal faces contain at least one of bromide and chloride ions and optionally contain a minor proportion of iodide ions based on total silver.

5. A silver halide photographic emulsion according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said silver halide grains are additionally comprised of at least one of cubic and octahedral crystal faces.

6. A silver halide photographic emulsion according any one of claims 1 to 4 claim 1 wherein said silver halide grains are regular tetrahexahedral grains.

7. A silver halide photographic emulsion according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein a grain growth modifier is adsorbed to said tetra- hexahedral crystal faces.

8. A silver halide photographic emulsion according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said tetrahexahedral crystal faces satisfy the Miller index assignment (hk0), wherein 0 is zero, h and k are integers greater than 0, no greater than 5, and different from each other.

9. A silver halide photographic emulsion according to claim 8 wherein said tetrahexahedral crystal faces exhibit a (210) or {410} Miller index.

10. A silver halide photographic emulsion according to claim 9 wherein a grain growth modifier is present in said emulsion chosen from 3,3'-diethylthiacyanine, 3-carboxy-ethyl-5-{[3-(3-sulfopropyl)-2-thiazolidinylidene]ethylidene}- rhodanine, or 3-carboxypropyl-5-([3-(3-sulfopropyl)-2-thiazolidinylidene]ethylidene)rhodanine dyes.

11. A photographic element containing an emulsion according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Drawing