AFM characterization of domain structure of ferroelectric TGS crystals on a nanoscale

Ferroelectric or non-ferroelectric: Why so many materials exhibit “ferroelectricity” on the nanoscale

“…in friction force microscopy. [63][64][65][66][67][68][69] However, the nature and quantitative mechanisms of the observed signal remained highly uncertain. In parallel, several groups explored ferroelectric domain imaging using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) and similar techniques, 29,30,[37][38][39][71][72][73] which are variants of non-contact SPM techniques sensitive to long-range electrostatic interactions.…”

“…[54][55][56][57][58] It was recognized by several groups that the fundamental characteristics of ferroelectrics, namely electromechanical coupling 41,59 , polarization dependent surface charge density, 43,44,[60][61][62] polarization dependent surface chemistry and friction, [63][64][65][66][67][68][69] or optical properties 70 could be employed as a basis for detection in SPM. A number of authors reported the difference in friction properties between dissimilar ferroelectric domains, enabling high (sub-10 nm) resolution of domain structures of materials such as GASH (guanidinium aluminum sulfate hexahydrate), TGS (triglycine sulfate), etc.…”

Temperature observation of the evolution of the domain structure of triglycine sulphate by SEM

“…This is associated with the fact that the type and behavior of the domain structure of real crystals heavily depends on a large number of different factors, to which refer the cooling rate during the phase transition through the Curie point, the character of temperature changes during observations (steady, pulsed, periodic), the mode of variation in the external field, the crystal growth conditions and preparation of its surface. In addition, as was shown by the example of atomic force microscopy, the measurement conditions can affect not only the results of visualization of the domain structure but also the run of the processes of repolar ization in a sample [8].…”

“…This basic struc ture can, however, become highly complicated upon a phase transition and under the effect of external fac tors [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. To date, a series of methods for revealing the domain structure of TGS has been designed for experimental studies.…”

Theoretical Study of Ferroelectric Triglycine Sulphate (TGS) Crystal in External Electric Fields

“…Arago and Gonzalo [4] have done hysteresis curve studies of TGS crystal. Tolstekhina et al [5] have done atomic force microscopy domain structure on nano scale studies. Costache et al [6] have done pyroelectric properties of pure and alanine doped TGS crystals.…”