Advanced atomic force microscopy techniques V

• Philipp Rahe,
• Ilko Bald,
• Nadine Hauptmann,
• Regina Hoffmann-Vogel,
• Harry Mönig and
• Michael Reichling

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 54–56, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.6

• characterization of defects in a single layer of graphene on iridium that were induced by rare-gas ion bombardment by using combined scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) measurements and NC-AFM [12]. The authors reveal that presumed monoatomic vacancies, as deduced from STM measurements alone, have rather

Density functional theory study of Au-fcc/Ge and Au-hcp/Ge interfaces

• Olga Sikora,
• Małgorzata Sternik,
• Benedykt R. Jany,
• Franciszek Krok,
• Przemysław Piekarz and
• Andrzej M. Oleś

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1093–1105, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.90

• tunnelling microscopy. However, experimental data provide only partial insight into the formation of interfaces, and the interpretation of microscopic images is often ambiguous. Various simulation techniques can be used to resolve the uncertainties and reveal mechanisms stabilizing the observed interfaces

• crystalline phases on a specific substrate [2][3]. The structure of a heterophase can be studied using advanced atomic-resolution experiments, such as high-resolution electron microscopy [4], high-resolution secondary-electron microscopy [5], scanning transmission electron microscopy [6][7] or scanning

PTCDA adsorption on CaF₂ thin films

• Philipp Rahe

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 1615–1622, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.144

• functionality. Here, the molecular properties of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) adsorbed on insulating CaF2 thin films that were grown on Si(111) surfaces are studied. Scanning tunnelling microscopy is used to compare the properties of PTCDA molecules adsorbed on a partly CaF1-covered Si

• ); scanning tunnelling microscopy; Introduction The study of molecular adsorption on thin insulating films is motivated by the possibility to investigate and utilise molecular properties in their largely undisturbed state [1]. Molecule–thin film insulator interfaces are additionally of central importance in

• , with PTCDA as the probe molecule. In particular, the adsorption properties of PTCDA on CaF2/CaF1/Si(111), CaF1/Si(111), as well as Si(111)-(7 × 7) surfaces are experimentally investigated by high-resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and the adsorption geometry on a CaF2(111) slab is

Protruding hydrogen atoms as markers for the molecular orientation of a metallocene

• Linda Laflör,
• Michael Reichling and
• Philipp Rahe

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 1432–1438, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.127

• samples, the surface direction was determined by cleaving the crystal after the NC-AFM experiments along a (111) plane other than the surface plane. For thin film samples, the orientation of the Si(111)-(7 × 7) unit cell was measured by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and the direction was

Atomic defect classification of the H–Si(100) surface through multi-mode scanning probe microscopy

• Jeremiah Croshaw,
• Thomas Dienel,
• Taleana Huff and
• Robert Wolkow

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 1346–1360, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.119

• Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2M9, Canada 10.3762/bjnano.11.119 Abstract The combination of scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) allows enhanced extraction and correlation of properties not readily

• tunnelling hydrogen microscopy; scanning tunnelling microscopy; surface metrology; Introduction Novel approaches to advance integrated circuitry beyond CMOS have focused on atom scale structures and their reliable fabrication [1]. Hydrogen-terminated silicon (H–Si) surfaces are one such versatile platform

Current measurements in the intermittent-contact mode of atomic force microscopy using the Fourier method: a feasibility analysis

• Berkin Uluutku and
• Santiago D. Solares

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 453–465, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.37

• cantilever oscillation, can be a less destructive technique [16][19][20], and this could be advantageous also for performing current measurements on such samples. Additionally, scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) applications may also benefit from current measurements during which the tip oscillates above

Intuitive human interface to a scanning tunnelling microscope: observation of parity oscillations for a single atomic chain

• Sumit Tewari,
• Jacob Bakermans,
• Christian Wagner,
• Federica Galli and
• Jan M. van Ruitenbeek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 337–348, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.33

• refer to as point contact pushing (PCP) technique. Keywords: adatom imaging; mechanical annealing; scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM); STM tip; tip apex; Introduction It is of fundamental interest both for chemists and physicists to study the electronic transport through single atoms and molecules

• . Scanning tunnelling microscopy bestows us with the capability not only to image single atoms and molecules when they are deposited on a conducting surface but also to study electronic transport through these entities [1][2]. However, during atomic and molecular manipulation operations it is not possible to

Review: Electrostatically actuated nanobeam-based nanoelectromechanical switches – materials solutions and operational conditions

• Liga Jasulaneca,
• Jelena Kosmaca,
• Raimonds Meija,
• Jana Andzane and
• Donats Erts

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 271–300, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.29

• microscope [8][10][11][12][13][14][15]. In situ studies of the dynamics of force interactions, conductance and adhesion in gold point contacts using combined transmission electron microscopy/scanning tunnelling microscopy (TEM-STM) [51][52] and atomic force microscopy/transmission electron microscopy (AFM

Anchoring of a dye precursor on NiO(001) studied by non-contact atomic force microscopy

• Sara Freund,
• Antoine Hinaut,
• Nathalie Marinakis,
• Edwin C. Constable,
• Ernst Meyer,
• Catherine E. Housecroft and
• Thilo Glatzel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 242–249, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.26

• lie between 3.5 and 4.3 eV [25][26][27][28][29], and given that scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) can only be performed on thin NiO films grown on metals [30][31], non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) in ultra-high vacuum is the technique of choice. Due to its hardness and high reactivity

Optical contrast and refractive index of natural van der Waals heterostructure nanosheets of franckeite

• Patricia Gant,
• Foad Ghasemi,
• David Maeso,
• Carmen Munuera,
• Elena López-Elvira,
• Riccardo Frisenda,
• David Pérez De Lara,
• Gabino Rubio-Bollinger,
• Mar Garcia-Hernandez and
• Andres Castellanos-Gomez

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 2357–2362, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.235

• properties of franckeite nanosheets. Results and Discussion Franckeite flakes are prepared by mechanical exfoliation of bulk franckeite crystals extracted from a mineral rock (San José mine, Oruro, Bolivia). The bulk franckeite crystal has been previously characterized by scanning tunnelling microscopy

(Metallo)porphyrins for potential materials science applications

• Lars Smykalla,
• Carola Mende,
• Michael Fronk,
• Pablo F. Siles,
• Michael Hietschold,
• Georgeta Salvan,
• Dietrich R. T. Zahn,
• Oliver G. Schmidt,
• Tobias Rüffer and
• Heinrich Lang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1786–1800, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.180

• of those ensembles of (metallo)porphyrins in materials science is discussed. Keywords: atomic force microscopy; magneto-optical Kerr effect spectroscopy; scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy; self-assembly; surface-confined 2D polymerization; transport properties; Review Introduction

Transport characteristics of a silicene nanoribbon on Ag(110)

• Ryoichi Hiraoka,
• Chun-Liang Lin,
• Kotaro Nakamura,
• Ryo Nagao,
• Maki Kawai,
• Ryuichi Arafune and
• Noriaki Takagi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1699–1704, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.170

• discuss the origin of the peak as it relates to the SiNR. Keywords: nanojunction; nanoribbon; scanning tunnelling microscopy; silicene; transport; Introduction The electronic transport characteristics of nanomaterials from a single molecule, nanowires, nanotubes, and nanoribbons to two-dimensional (2D

Adsorption and electronic properties of pentacene on thin dielectric decoupling layers

• Sebastian Koslowski,
• Daniel Rosenblatt,
• Alexander Kabakchiev,
• Klaus Kuhnke,
• Klaus Kern and
• Uta Schlickum

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1388–1395, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.140

• chloride (KCl); scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM); scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS); Introduction Miniaturization plays a paramount role in the development of modern technology. In order to further reduce the dimensions of the basic processing units, molecular electronics is a promising approach

Comprehensive Raman study of epitaxial silicene-related phases on Ag(111)

• Dmytro Solonenko,
• Ovidiu D. Gordan,
• Guy Le Lay,
• Dietrich R. T. Zahn and
• Patrick Vogt

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1357–1365, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.137

• tunnelling microscopy observations, are manifested in the sets of Raman bands, i.e., in different spectral signatures. Our results confirm a close link between epitaxial (3×3)/(4×4) silicene and the silicene-related “” structure since both share similar spectral fingerprints. The ordered parts of the

• presence of 2D Si layers on Ag(111). Conclusion We performed a comprehensive spectroscopic study of the silicene-related superstructures epitaxially grown on the Ag(111) surface by in situ Raman spectroscopy. The structural differences between the silicene-related phases, consistent with the scanning

Adsorption characteristics of Er₃N@C₈₀on W(110) and Au(111) studied via scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy

• Sebastian Schimmel,
• Zhixiang Sun,
• Danny Baumann,
• Denis Krylov,
• Nataliya Samoylova,
• Alexey Popov,
• Bernd Büchner and
• Christian Hess

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1127–1134, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.114

• ; scanning tunnelling microscopy; scanning tunnelling spectroscopy; W(110); Introduction Fullerenes provide the feasibility of tunable physical properties by their capacity to encapsulate atoms or clusters inside the carbon cage [1][2]. Thus since their discovery in 1985 they excite great attention of the

Calculating free energies of organic molecules on insulating substrates

• Julian Gaberle,
• David Z. Gao and
• Alexander L. Shluger

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 667–674, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.71

• technologies, a thorough understanding of the competing interactions at the surface is vital. Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) has been pivotal in achieving a high level of control over the molecular film structures on metal surfaces [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. However, many applications require the use of

Scanning probe microscopy studies on the adsorption of selected molecular dyes on titania

• Jakub S. Prauzner-Bechcicki,
• Lukasz Zajac,
• Piotr Olszowski,
• Res Jöhr,
• Antoine Hinaut,
• Thilo Glatzel,
• Bartosz Such,
• Ernst Meyer and
• Marek Szymonski

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1642–1653, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.156

• results can be confronted with scanning tunnelling microscopy studies discussing the influence of dispersion forces on the supramolecular ordering of the molecules in a layer described by Godlewski et al. [28]. These authors have shown that at a low coverage, below 0.7 ML, molecules form poorly ordered

• layer. Understanding of the molecule–substrate interactions is one of the key elements of successful design of organic DSSCs. In this regard, in addition to study the adsorption of organic dyes on the surfaces of wide-band-gap materials with the use of scanning tunnelling microscopy or atomic force

Optical absorption signature of a self-assembled dye monolayer on graphene

• Tessnim Sghaier,
• Sylvain Le Liepvre,
• Céline Fiorini,
• Ludovic Douillard and
• Fabrice Charra

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 862–868, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.78

• ) has been formed onto CVD graphene transferred on a transparent substrate. Its structure has been probed by scanning tunnelling microscopy and its optical properties by polarized transmission spectroscopy at varying incidence. The results show that the transition dipoles of adsorbed PTCDI are all

• -3,4,9,10-diimide (PTCDI); scanning tunnelling microscopy; self-assembly; self-organization; Introduction Close-packed assemblies of dye molecules exhibit drastically altered photonic properties as compared with the isolated or diluted species [1]. These changes find their origin in near-field optical

• offers opportunities for advanced optical characterizations in a transmission geometry, such as polarized variable-incidence transmission spectroscopy. In addition, the electrical conductivity of a CVD graphene monolayer is sufficiently high to apply scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and thus

Microscopic characterization of Fe nanoparticles formed on SrTiO₃(001) and SrTiO₃(110) surfaces

• Miyoko Tanaka

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 817–824, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.73

• vacuum by means of transmission electron microscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy. It was shown that some Fe nanoparticles grow epitaxially. They exhibit a modified Wulff shape: nanoparticles on STO {001} surfaces have truncated pyramid shapes while those on STO {110} surfaces have hexagonal shapes

• nanoparticles on STO(001) and STO(110) surfaces, their morphologies and arrangements are investigated by using a combined system for ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The system provides in situ observation of nanoparticles from both horizontal

High electronic couplings of single mesitylene molecular junctions

• Yuki Komoto,
• Shintaro Fujii,
• Tomoaki Nishino and
• Manabu Kiguchi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2431–2437, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.251

• transport properties of single mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) molecular junctions. The electronic conductance and the current–voltage characteristics of mesitylene molecules wired into Au electrodes were measured by a scanning tunnelling microscopy-based break-junction method at room temperature in a

• electrode perpendicular to the charge transport direction and (ii) mesitylene has tilted from the perpendicular orientation. Keywords: break junction; charge transport; mesitylene; single molecular junction; scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM); Introduction Along with increasing interests in molecular

• Γ as well as ε0. Very recently Afsari et al. have investigated the single mesitylene molecular junction with a scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM)-based break junction (BJ) technique [20]. The conductance of a single mesitylene molecular junction has been founded to be approximately 0.1G0, which is

Virtual reality visual feedback for hand-controlled scanning probe microscopy manipulation of single molecules

• Philipp Leinen,
• Matthew F. B. Green,
• Taner Esat,
• Christian Wagner,
• F. Stefan Tautz and
• Ruslan Temirov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2148–2153, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.220

• (PTCDA); scanning probe microscopy (SPM); scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM); single-molecule manipulation; virtual reality interface; Introduction The recently introduced scanning probe microscopy (SPM) technique of hand controlled manipulation (HCM) allows the operator of the SPM to manipulate

Distribution of Pd clusters on ultrathin, epitaxial TiO_x films on Pt₃Ti(111)

• Christian Breinlich,
• Maria Buchholz,
• Marco Moors,
• Tobias Pertram,
• Conrad Becker and
• Klaus Wandelt

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2007–2014, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.204

• Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) was used to investigate the nucleation and growth of palladium clusters on two different, ultrathin, epitaxial, titania films grown on a Pt3Ti(111) surface. The first oxide phase, z'-TiOx, is anisotropic and consists of parallel stripes separated by trenches. Defects

• -type superstructure with fewer and shallower defects, making the template effect less discernible. Keywords: cluster growth; palladium; platinum–titanium alloy; scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM); template; titanium oxide; Introduction Catalysts often consist of metal nanoparticles dispersed on an

• we investigate the template effect of two different structures of the same type of oxide on the cluster growth of the same metal, namely Pd on z'-TiOx and w'-TiOx. Experimental setup The scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) experiments were conducted on our custom-built LT-STM, which for the

Transformations of PTCDA structures on rutile TiO₂ induced by thermal annealing and intermolecular forces

• Szymon Godlewski,
• Jakub S. Prauzner-Bechcicki,
• Thilo Glatzel,
• Ernst Meyer and
• Marek Szymoński

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1498–1507, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.155

• 10.3762/bjnano.6.155 Abstract Transformations of molecular structures formed by perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) molecules on a rutile TiO2(110) surface are studied with low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy. We demonstrate that metastable molecular assemblies transform into

• same authors discussed the charge transfer timescale at the PTCDA/TiO2(110) interface with respect to the molecular orientation [38]. Tekiel et al. [39] presented scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) studies of the PTCDA/TiO2(011) system focused on molecular chain formation. The molecules were arranged

Molecular materials – towards quantum properties

• Mario Ruben

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1485–1486, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.153

• same token, the needed surface attachment and positioning of molecular materials by self-assembly techniques is addressed – an important prerequisite for the electrical addressing of molecules by lateral graphene electrodes or vertical scanning tunnelling microscopy set-ups or e-beam lithographed gold

Enhanced fullerene–Au(111) coupling in (2√3 × 2√3)R30° superstructures with intermolecular interactions

• Michael Paßens,
• Rainer Waser and
• Silvia Karthäuser

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1421–1431, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.147

• slightly more bright in scanning tunnelling microscopy images and are identified in disordered (2√3 x 2√3)R30° superstructures based on a detailed structure analysis. In addition, these slightly more bright C60 molecules form uniform (2√3 x 2√3)R30° superstructures, which exhibit intermolecular

• addition, hybrid fullerene–Au(111) surface states suggest partly covalent interactions. Keywords: adatom–vacancy mechanism; differential conductance; fullerene; Ising model; scanning tunnelling microscopy; Introduction Monolayers of close-packed fullerenes on metal surfaces belong to one of the most

• –metal interface. First systematic studies of close packed fullerene thin films on Au(111) surfaces using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) were performed by Altman and Colton [8][9][10]. They observed two structural arrangements, the (2√3 × 2√3)R30° and the uniform (7 × 7)R0° superlattices, with the