Iminodiacetic acid doped ferroelectric triglycine sulphate crystal: Crystal growth and characterization

Single crystals of iminodiacetic acid (HN(CH(2)COOH)(2)) doped triglycine sulphate (IDATGS) crystals have been grown from aqueous solution containing 1-10 mol% of iminodiacetic acid at constant temperature by slow evaporation technique. The effects of different amounts of doping entities on the growth habit have been investigated. X-ray powder diffraction pattern for pure and doped TGS was collected to determine the lattice parameters. The grown crystals were subjected to Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies to find the presence of various functional groups qualitatively. The dielectric permittivity has been studied as a function of temperature. An increase in the transition temperature (49.2-49.7 degrees C) of IDATGS crystals is observed. The dielectric constant (epsilon'(max)) of IDATGS crystals vary in the range 922-2410 compared to pure TGS (T(c)=49.12 degrees C and epsilon'(max) =3050). Curie Weiss constants C(p) and C(f) in the paraelectric and ferroelectric phases were determined. The transition temperature (T(c)) is found to decrease with increase in dopant concentration. P-E hysteresis studies show the presence of internal bias field in the crystal. Piezoelectric measurements were also carried out at room temperature. Domain patterns on b-cut plates were observed using scanning electron microscope. The micro hardness studies reveal that the doped crystals are harder than the pure TGS crystals. The low dielectric constant, higher transition temperature, internal bias field and hardness suggest that IDATGS crystals could be a potential material for IR detectors. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.