Cleavage Surface of Ferroelectric Tri-Glycine Sulfate

Abstract

Cleavage surfaces of TGS were examined mainly by a differential interference microscope. When the cleavage propagating direction is roughly along the c-axis at the ferroelectric phase, the cleavage plane is slightly inclined to the b-plane. The inclination always directs toward the c-axis, but the magnitude is indefinite. The cleavage propagates with inclining toward the side of the positive end of the spontaneous polarigation. The sense of the inclination is reversed with the polarity of domain and with the direction of the cleavage propagation. Cleavage steps are formed at domain boundaries by such an inclination. When the cleavage propagates perpendicularly to the c-axis, the cleavage plane is not inclined.