Low energy argon ion irradiation surface effects on triglycine sulfate

Abstract An experimental study of the effects of low energy (1–2 keV) argon ion (Ar + ) irradiation on Triglycine Sulfate (TGS) has been performed. Ferroelectric parameters, such as the Curie temperature T C determined from the dielectric constant peaks ɛ ( T ), or the remnant polarization P r , and coercive field E c , obtained from the hysteresis loops, show interesting differences between samples irradiated in ferroelectric and paraelectric phases, respectively. The radiation damage seems to be superficial, as observed by AFM microscope, and the surface alteration in both phases becomes eventually notorious when the radiation dosage increases.