Atomic force microscopy of the mirror cleavage surface of defect TGS crystals

The nanorelief of the mirror cleavage surface of triglycine sulfate crystals with various defect densities has been studied. Typical nanorelief features of both defect and clean (without artificial impurity) crystals are two-dimensional rounded bumps (dips) of equal height (depth) of about half the lattice parameter and sub-micrometer lateral sizes. The density, lateral size, and scatter of such 2D structures are several times larger for defect crystals than for clean ones. The correlation between the crystal defect density and the density and lateral size of 2D structures on the cleavage surface has been revealed. Conclusions are made about the defect origin of the typical nanorelief on the mirror cleavage.