Dynamical studies of the ferroelectric domain structure in triglycine sulfate by voltage-modulated scanning force microscopy

Voltage-modulated scanning force microscopy has been employed to investigat e the dynamics of ferroelectric domains as a function of time and temperatu re in triglycine sulfate (TGS) single crystals. Branching of the domain str ucture and nucleation of fine domain patterns by internal fields of thermal origin have been directly observed on the submicron scale. Domain coarseni ng after quenching TGS samples from the paraelectric phase into the ferroel ectric one has been studied, revealing a nonlinear time dependence of the c haracteristic correlation domain length and supporting the validity of dyna mical scaling law and the conservation of the total surface charge. Substan tial differences in the evolution of the domain structure have been detecte d during cooling or heating treatment in the ferroelectric phase. Domain co ntrast is shown to monitor the ferroelectric phase transition through its t emperature dependence, reflecting the competition between electrostatic and piezoelectric effects. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021- 897 9(00)07901-9].