Triglycine sulfate
chemical compound
Triglycine sulfate (TGS) is a chemical compound with a formula (NH2CH2COOH)3·H2SO4. The empirical formula of TGS does not represent the molecular structure, which contains protonated glycine moieties and sulfate ions. TGS with protons replaced by deuterium is called deuterated TGS or DTGS; alternatively, DTGS may refer to doped TGS. By doping the DTGS with the amino acid L-Alanine, the crystal properties are improved and the new material is called Deuterated L-Alanine doped Triglycine Sulfate (DLATGS or DLTGS). These crystals are pyroelectric and ferroelectric which allows their use as photodetector elements in infrared spectroscopy and night vision applications. TGS detectors have also been used as the target in vidicon cathode ray imager tubes.
TGS has a critical point for the order parameter of polarization, at 322.5 K.
Crystal structure and properties
TGS crystals may be formed by evaporation of an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid and a greater than three-fold excess of glycine. They belong to the polar space group P21 and therefore are pyroelectric and ferroelectric at room temperature, exhibiting spontaneous polarization along the b-axis ([010] direction). The Curie temperature of the ferroelectric transition is 49 °C for TGS and 62 °C for DTGS. The crystal structure consists of SO42−, 2(N+H3CH2COOH) (G1 and G2 in the crystal-structure diagram), and +NH3CH2COO− (G3) species held together by hydrogen bonds. These bonds are easily broken by the polar molecules of water, which leads to the hygroscopicity of TGS – its crystals are easily etched by water. Along the b-axis, the G1-SO4 and G2-G3 layers are stacked alternately.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Triglycine sulfate” as chemical compound. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as chemical compound. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 8, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q411356. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Triglycine sulfate”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Triglycine sulfate primary sources, Triglycine sulfate archive and Triglycine research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Triglycine sulfate”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Triglycine sulfate” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.