Search results for "Scanning Tunneling Microscope"
showing 10 items of 127 documents
Structure and electronic properties of ultrathin Co films on W(110)
2004
Abstract The structure and electronic properties of ultrathin Co films on W(1 1 0) grown by molecular beam epitaxy in UHV were investigated by low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM and STS). For coverages above 0.7 ML the pseudomorphic (ps) monolayer is transformed gradually into close-packed (cp-) monolayer areas, showing up as separated islands that increase in size with coverage until the cp-monolayer is complete. Two different structures of the cp-monolayer were observed by atomically resolved STM, both leading to a 8 × 1 superstructure in the LEED pattern. Higher coverages continue to grow in the Stransky–Krastanov growth mode fo…
On-Surface Synthesis of Antiaromatic and Open-Shell Indeno[2,1- b ]fluorene Polymers and Their Lateral Fusion into Porous Ribbons
2019
Polycyclic hydrocarbons have received great attention due to their potential role in organic electronics and, for open-shell systems with unpaired electron densities, in spintronics and da-ta storage. However, the intrinsic instability of polyradical hydrocarbons severely limits de-tailed investigations of their electronic structure. Here, we report the on-surface synthesis of conjugated polymers consisting of indeno[2,1-b]fluorene units, which are antiaromatic and open-shell biradicaloids. The observed reaction products, which also include a non-benzenoid porous ribbon arising from lateral fusion of unprotected indeno[2,1-b]fluorene chains, have been characterized via low temperature scann…
Liquid–solid interfaces: structure and dynamics from spectroscopy and simulations
2014
Liquid–solid interfaces play an important role in a number of phenomena encountered in biological, chemical and physical processes. Surface-induced changes of the material properties are not only important for the solid support but also for the liquid itself. In particular, it is now well established that water at the interface is substantially different from bulk water, even in the proximity of apparently inert surfaces such as a simple metal. The complex chemistry at liquid–solid interfaces is typically fundamental to heterogeneous catalysis and electrochemistry, and has become especially topical in connection with the search for new materials for energy production. A quite remarkable exa…
Current rectification in a single molecule diode: the role of electrode coupling.
2015
We demonstrate large rectification ratios (> 100) in single-molecule junctions based on a metal-oxide cluster (polyoxometalate), using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) both at ambient conditions and at low temperature. These rectification ratios are the largest ever observed in a single-molecule junction, and in addition these junctions sustain current densities larger than 10^5 A/cm^2. By following the variation of the I-V characteristics with tip-molecule separation we demonstrate unambiguously that rectification is due to asymmetric coupling to the electrodes of a molecule with an asymmetric level structure. This mechanism can be implemented in other type of molecular junctions u…
Spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy of ultrathinFe∕Mo(110)films usingW∕Au∕Cotips
2006
We report on magnetic contrast observed in low-temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) of Fe nanowires deposited on Mo(110) using tungsten tips covered by $\mathrm{Au}∕\mathrm{Co}$ thin films. Due to the spin reorientation transition of Co films on Au an out-of-plane magnetic sensitivity is obtained for tips with thin cobalt films (up to 8 monolayers of Co), while for thicker Co coverages an in-plane magnetization component can be probed. Using $\mathrm{W}∕\mathrm{Au}∕\mathrm{Co}$ tips with out-of-plane magnetic sensitivity we show that the one (ML) and two (DL) atomic layers thick Fe nanowires prepared using step flow growth on a Mo(110) crystal are perpendicularl…
Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy of Ultrathin Films
2006
Using low temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy we have studied the morphology and magnetic properties of ultrathin Fe(0.5 ML)Au(0.5 ML) nanowires prepared on a Mo(110) single crystal. The Fe nanostripes grown by step flow on a Mo(110) at 700 K were covered by Au at RT, and subsequently annealed at 700 K. Differences in the morphology of Au on Fe(110)/Mo(110) and clean Mo(110) surfaces are observed and discussed. After annealing, the Mo is covered by a homogeneous FeAu ML alloy with several iron enriched islands which reveal an out-of-plane magnetic contrast. Direct lateral exchange coupling has been observed for these islands.
Two-terminal nanoelectromechanical devices based on germanium nanowires.
2009
A two-terminal bistable device, having both ON and OFF regimes, has been demonstrated with Ge nanowires using an in situ TEM-STM technique. The function of the device is based on delicately balancing electrostatic, elastic, and adhesion forces between the nanowires and the contacts, which can be controlled by the applied voltage. The operation and failure conditions of the bistable device were investigated, i.e. the influence of nanowire diameter, the surface oxide layer on the nanowires and the current density. During ON/OFF cycles the Ge nanowires were observed to be more stable than carbon nanotubes, working at similar conditions, due to the higher mechanical stability of the nanowires. …
Bright Beaches of Nanoscale Potassium Islands on Graphite in STM Imaging
2008
We demonstrate, via scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements performed at 48 K, the existence of "bright beaches" at the edges of K islands (diameter approximately 5-500 nm) on the graphite surface. The enhanced tunneling current is only observed in monolayer-high islands on graphite, and not in islands of similar geometry on top of a K monolayer film. First-principles density functional calculations and STM simulations suggest that this is an STM field effect, which appears as the positive tip attracts donated electrons back to the metallic K islands. The restored charge accumulates preferentially at the island edges.
Reconstructed bcc Co films on the surface
2007
Abstract Ultrathin epitaxial Co films on Cr ( 1 1 0 ) are examined by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM and STS). At room temperature Co grows as pseudomorphic bcc layers for the first two monolayers and forms close-packed Co layers with stacking faults for thicker coverages. A periodic lattice distortion appears in two equivalent (3 × 1) reconstruction domains in combination with a regular lattice of dislocation lines oriented along the in-plane close-packed row directions bcc [ 1 1 ¯ 1 ] and bcc [ 1 ¯ 1 1 ] . The reconstruction and the occurrence of dislocation lines are caused by the epitaxial strain. The local density-of-states function is mapped by scanning tunneling …
Maxwell and Sharvin conductance in gold point contacts investigated using TEM-STM
2000
We have investigated the conductance of gold point contacts using a scanning tunneling microscope ~STM! inside a transmission electron microscope ~TEM!. Measuring the conductance of these point contacts as a function of radius, we could directly compare it with theories both in the ballistic regime ~Sharvin! as well as in the diffusive regime ~Maxwell!. The width of the contacts were between a single atom and 20 nm. Using an interpolation formula ~Wexler! between the two limits, we obtain a mean free path of 4 nm, which is about ten times shorter than the room-temperature bulk value. The low value indicates an enhanced scattering, which is not due to high temperature in the point contact, i…