Growth and characterization of rare earths doped triglycine sulfate crystals

Ferroelectric triglycine sulfate (TGS) single crystals have been grown by a temperature-lowering technique from the aqueous solution by doping with samarium sulfate, ytterbium sulfate and terbium sulfate in the ferroelectric phase. The effects of these different dopants on the morphology, growth and various properties such as dielectric, pyroelectric and piezoelectric of doped TGS crystals have been investigated. The decrease in values of dielectric constant and pyroelectric coefficient is observed while the dielectric loss has increased. Using these parameters, figure-of-merits for their use in infrared sensors have also been reported and compared with pure TGS crystal. The Vickers's hardness of doped TGS crystals along (0 1 0) crystallographic face has increased.