Novel experiments were carried out on the Ir(1 1 1) tips to investigate the recrystallization process of crystal after annealing from high temperature in a high electric field. The growth process of a nanometer size crystal grain on the apex of a much larger needle crystal was in situ observed. As growth continued, the rotary growth process of surface-step on the (0 0 1) plane of the growth grain can be observed. The relation between of the two orientations of primary single crystal and the recrystallization grain meets 40degrees <1 1 1> relation. The experimental results reveal that the application of both the curvature of underlying needle and an electric field provides a direct formation of a nanometer size recrystallization grain with a reproducible and ideal profile. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.