Acoustic shock wave-induced ordered to disordered switchable phase transitions: A case study of ferroelectric triglycine sulphate single crystal for the application of molecular switches.

Highly efficient switchable materials for external stimuli have impressive applications in the development of precious sensor devices. However, most of the materials do not possess effective switchable structural features such that finding potential switchable materials is one of the critical research tasks for materials science researchers. In the present research perspective, we demonstrate successive switchable phase transitions occurring between the order to disorder states in the ferroelectric triglycine sulphate (TGS) single crystal along the (011) plane with respect to the number of shock pulses (0,1 and 2 counts) and the observed results are evaluated by the diffraction, spectroscopic, microscopic and thermal approaches. The observed switchable phase transitions occur due to the shock wave-induced inter-conversion of planar configuration to the non-planar configuration of Glycine molecules, particularly GII and GIII. The ratio of the normalized Raman bands Sym-CH 2 /Asym-CH 2 is found to be 2.0 and 2.5 for the respective order to disorder states such that these values are identified to be well-matched with the literature reports. In addition to that, the SEM images authenticate that, during the amorphous to crystalline phase transitions, the appearance of well-defined (011) plane on the surface is ensured due to the dynamic recrystallization. To the best of our knowledge, to date, it is probably the first report for the phase switching of order to disorder states of TGS sample by the impact of acoustical shock waves and because of its efficient switchability, it can be strongly suggested for the application of molecular switches. High efficient switchable materials with respect to external stimuli have impressive applications in the development of precious sensor devices. However, most of the materials do not possess effective switchable structural features such that finding potential switchable materials is one of the critical research tasks for materials science researchers. In the present research perspective, we demonstrate successive switchable phase transitions occurring between the order to disorder states in the ferroelectric triglycine sulphate (TGS) single crystal along the (011) plane with respect to the number of shock pulses (0,1 and 2 counts) and the observed results are evaluated by the diffraction, spectroscopic, microscopic and thermal approaches. The observed switchable phase transitions occur due to the shock wave-induced inter-conversion of planer configuration to the non-planer configuration of Glycine molecules, particularly GII and GIII. The ratio of the normalized Raman bands Sym-CH 2 /Asym-CH 2 is found to be 2.0 and 2.5 for the respective order to disorder states such that these values are identified to be well-matched with the literature reports. In addition to that, the SEM images authenticate that, during the amorphous to crystalline phase transitions, the appearance of well-defined (011) planes on the surface are ensured due to the dynamic-Recrystallization. To the best of our knowledge, to date, it is probably the first report for the phase switching of order to disorder states of TGS sample by the impact of acoustical shock waves and because of its efficient switchability, it can be strongly suggested for the application of molecular switches. [Display omitted] • Crystallographically switchable order–disorder phase transition of the TGS crystal by shock waves is reported. • The said phase transition is evaluated by diffraction, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. • The title crystal is suggested to thermo sensitive devices and molecular switching applications. • The present manuscript can provide new insights on the material properties at extreme conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]