Time Evolution of Surface Topography around a Domain Wall in Ferroelectric (NH₂CH₂COOH)₃·H₂SO₄

Abstract

Time evolution of surface topography around a domain wall was investigated on a cleaved (010) surface of ferroelectric (NH 2 CH 2 COOH) 3 ·H 2 SO 4 (TGS) using an atomic force microscope (AFM). We found the following time evolution of the surface topography during 32 hours in air at room temperature. First the migration of the domain wall induced the migration of a small step on the domain wall. The height of the small step decreased from 2–3 Å to 0–1 Å. Holes having a narrow and long tail extending to the domain wall were transformed. Parts of cleavage steps crossing the domain wall were also transformed. Round holes and islands with diameters smaller than ∼100 nm shrank in size.