Modifying the STM tip for the ' ultimate ' imaging of the Si(111)-7×7 surface and metal-supported molecules

Chimia (Aarau). 2012;66(1-2):31-7. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2012.31.

Abstract

We report on high-resolution STM measurements with modified probe tips. First, both the rest atoms and adatoms of a Si(111)-7×7 surface are observed simultaneously. The visibility of rest atoms is dependent upon the sample bias voltage (less than -0.7 V) and is enhanced by sharpening the tip, which is rationalized by first-principles calculations. Second, a tip with a perylene molecule adsorbed at its apex is used to discriminate the molecular states and the metal states of the underlying Ag(110) surface, which is attributable to a mismatch between the energy levels of the functionalized tip and the adsorbates on silver. Lastly, high-resolution images of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) molecules on Au(111) are obtained by using an O(2)-terminated tip, and the images reveal rich intramolecular features arising from molecular orbitals that are not observed when using clean metallic tips.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Ferrous Compounds / chemistry*
  • Indoles / chemistry*
  • Isoindoles
  • Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling
  • Models, Molecular
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Zinc Compounds

Substances

  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Indoles
  • Isoindoles
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Zinc Compounds
  • iron phthalocyanine
  • Zn(II)-phthalocyanine
  • Silver
  • Oxygen
  • Silicon