Patterning and Nanoscale Characterization of Ferroelectric Amino Acid Beta-glycine

Abstract

The formation of self-organized micro- and nano-islands of beta-glycine prepared by spin-coating is observed. It is shown that the islands are very stable and possess apparent piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties studied in detail by Piezoresponse Force Microscopy. The micro-Raman studies are conducted to confirm the crystallographic preferred orientation and formation of beta-phase. The polarization reversal of individual ferroelectric islands is demonstrated by application of the relatively small bias voltage.