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On (111) oriented gold thin films it is
possible to locally modify the surface by applying a voltage pulse (see eg. T.
Schaub, Nanotechnology 3 (1991) p77-83). Depending on the polarity of the pulse
it is possible to field evaporate tip material onto the surface. In the
subsequent series of images the evolution of the deposit can be seen.
Figure 1. The surface prior the applied pulses. Scan size: 127 nm z-range:
1.0nm
Figure 2. After applying several pulses (0-4V) using the spectroscopy feature
of the easyScan STM software a deposit is visible. Scan size: 127 nm z-range:
1.0nm
After Applying
Pulses
After applying several pulses using the
spectroscopy feature of the easyScan software (0-4V) a deposit is visible in the second
image. After scanning the same location several times the deposit seems to
spread and accumulate at the step fronts.
Figure 3. Sequence of images taken in 3 minute intervals, all images: scan
size: 110 nm and z-range: 1.0nm |