Studies of ferroelectric surfaces using ion beam and chemical etching techniques

The chemical nature of the intrinsic surface layer in BaTiO3 single crystals and the positive and negative surfaces of Gd2(MoO4)3 have been determined using the specular reflection of low energy inert gas ions. Potassium and fluorine were detected impurities in Remeika-grown BaTiO3 crystals. The positive and negative surface of gadolinium molybdate crystals were chemically identical. However, significant effects of the orientation of the electric polarization vector on the scattering of incident He-4 ions were observed. The ion-beam irradiated areas showed a passivation effect towards chemical etchants.