Atomic Force Microscope Studies on Domain Dynamics in Phosphate Substituted Triglycine Sulfate Single Crystals: Evidence for the Domain Boundary Motion towards Negative Region and Holes Formation at the Domain Boundary

Domain dynamics in the (010) plane of phosphate substituted triglycine sulfate (TGSP) crystals with time are investigated by atomic force microscopy. The domain boundary migration from positive to negative side and the simultaneous formation of holes are imaged for the first time. The holes are transformed from needle to round shape with time. The domain boundary movement occurs in order to reduce the total energy, not only the surface but also bulk energy. However, the formation of holes at the boundary may occur because of insufficient supply of molecules from the surroundings and surface charge neutralization due to polarization reversal in the region.