Atomic force microscopy studies of Gd2(MoO4)3 crystal surface

✍ Scribed by R. Czajka; S. Mielcarek; B. Mróz; S. Kaszczyszyn; J. Albers

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 482 KB
• Volume: 54
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0042-207X
• DOI: 10.1016/s0042-207x(98)00434-5

✦ Synopsis

The aim of the present work was to determine what kind of data can be obtained from atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of ferroelastic crystals surfaces. It is expected that surface structure of ferroelectric and ferroelastic crystals can be correlated with the domain and/or domain boundary wall structures. Topography and frictional properties of freshly cleaved surfaces of ferroelastic crystal Gd (MoO ) (GMO) were studied by combined atomic and friction force microscopy under ambient and UHV conditions. AFM images of the ab plane revealed stepped surfaces with step heights corresponding to multiplicity of the crystal lattice c constant (1.07 nm). A frictional contrast was observed between different domains of GMO crystal surface. We have found that the surface bends at the domain boundary at an angle estimated to be about 2.35°. The twisting angle between these two planes belonging to different domains is probably due to tetragonality of the crystal structure (aOb). AFM images of the bc plane of GMO crystal surface show rough surface with linear structures along the c-axis direction.