Enhanced ferroelectric and piezoelectricity in 100 MeV Ag 7+ ion-irradiated <011>-oriented TGS single crystals

<011> -oriented TGS crystals have been irradiated by 100 MeV Ag 7+ ions at different ion fluence. The crystalline samples thus irradiated by swift heavy ions (SHI) were subjected to various characterization tools such as HRXRD, optical absorption, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric measurements. AFM measurement was also used for studying the surface feature of samples upon irradiation. The results obtained for the irradiated samples from each measurement have been compared with the pristine ones. The collective results converge to the fact that irradiation-induced surface defects marginally influenced the bulk properties of the crystalline and it can be witnessed from the optical, dielectric and ferro-/piezoelectric behaviors of the crystal after irradiation. The other interesting results have been discussed in detail.