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Gretz, Oliver ; Weymouth, Alfred J. ; Giessibl, Franz J.

Identifying the atomic configuration of the tip apex using STM and frequency-modulation AFM with CO on Pt(111)

Gretz, Oliver , Weymouth, Alfred J. and Giessibl, Franz J. (2020) Identifying the atomic configuration of the tip apex using STM and frequency-modulation AFM with CO on Pt(111). Physical Review Research 2, 033094.

Date of publication of this fulltext: 05 Nov 2021 10:04
Article
DOI to cite this document: 10.5283/epub.50970


Abstract

We investigated the atomic structure of metal tips by scanning individual CO molecules adsorbed on Pt(111) using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). When scanning very close over a CO molecule, the frontmost atoms of the tip can be individually resolved in both the FM-AFM image and in the STM image. This is in contrast to previous work ...

We investigated the atomic structure of metal tips by scanning individual CO molecules adsorbed on Pt(111) using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). When scanning very close over a CO molecule, the frontmost atoms of the tip can be individually resolved in both the FM-AFM image and in the STM image. This is in contrast to previous work where CO was adsorbed on a different substrate: Cu(111). In this previous study, individual atoms could not be observed in the raw STM image but only in FM-AFM. We discuss the mechanisms behind the higher spatial resolution in STM. On Cu(111), the occupied surface state plays a large role in STM images near the Fermi level, and as adsorbed CO repels the surface state, it appears as a wide trough in STM images. In contrast, Pt(111) lacks an occupied surface state and an adsorbed CO molecule appears as a peak. We investigate if CO bending strongly influences the STM images, concluding that the atomic resolution of the tip over Pt(111) is due to highly localized through-molecule tunneling and CO bending is insignificant for contrast formation. Modelling the current between the CO and front atoms of the tip supports our findings.



Involved Institutions


Details

Item typeArticle
Journal or Publication TitlePhysical Review Research
Publisher:American Physical Society
Volume:2
Page Range:033094
Date17 July 2020
InstitutionsPhysics > Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics > Chair Professor Giessibl > Group Franz J. Giessibl
Identification Number
ValueType
10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033094DOI
Dewey Decimal Classification500 Science > 530 Physics
StatusPublished
RefereedYes, this version has been refereed
Created at the University of RegensburgYes
URN of the UB Regensburgurn:nbn:de:bvb:355-epub-509700
Item ID50970

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