Atomic Force Microscopy Observation of Ferroelastic Domain Boundary in GdP5O14

Abstract

The surface structure of GdP 5 O 14 (gadolinium pentaphosphate) with a ferroelastic domain boundary is investigated by AFM (atomic force microscopy) at room temperature in air. The AFM data are obtained for a 1500-nm-square area (400×400 data points) on the (100) surface of the sample. The domain boundary is observed as a zigzag pattern about 300 nm in width. The contour map of the surface shows a unique surface structure in which hollows are aligned along the domain boundary; the hollows have a width of about 600 nm and a depth of 2 nm. If the surface image indicates a strain originating from the domain boundary structure, the thickness of the ferroelastic domain wall of GdP 5 O 14 is estimated to be about 0.6 µm at room temperature.