Atomic force microscopy and friction force microscopy studies of ferroelastic crystal surfaces

✍ Scribed by R. Czajka; S. Mielcarek; B. Mróz; S. Szuba; A. Kasuya; S. Kaszczyszyn

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1018 KB
• Volume: 238
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0043-1648
• DOI: 10.1016/s0043-1648(99)00335-x

✦ Synopsis

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. Ž . Ž . Topography and frictional properties of freshly cleaved surfaces of ferroelastic crystals: K Na SeO KNSe , and NH LiH SO 3 42 4 3 44 Ž . Ž . Ž . Ž . ALHS , and Gd MoO GMO were investigated by combined scanning and friction force microscopy FFM under ambient and 2 43

Ž . UHV conditions. Atomic force microscopy AFM images revealed stepped surfaces with step heights corresponding to the multiplication height of crystal lattice constant fractions e.g., cr2 or cr4. A frictional contrast was observed between terraces which are separated by steps and between different domains of ferroelastic crystals. We suggest that the frictional contrast is due to different molecular orientations at different terraces andror at different domains of a ferroelastic crystal, in the case of GMO, surface bends at the domain Ž boundary with the angle estimated to be about 2.358. It was also shown that the ALHS crystal surface can be modified e.g., by changing . the step profile and creation of the artificial bumps by an AFM tip imaging with normal force above 100 nN.