Manipulation and characterization of xenon-metalloporphyrin complexation with a scanning tunneling microscope

The formation of a series of Xe-CuEtioI [Cu(II) etioporphyrin I] complexes on Cu(001) surface was identified by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at cryogenic condition. The binding sites of xenon to CuEtioI molecule were directly revealed by high-resolution STM images in combination with controlled manipulation. The interaction between xenon atoms and CuEtioI in the on-top configuration is suggestive of a charge-induced dipole interaction. The structural parameters obtained with the STM complement results from spectroscopic studies of van der Waals complexes.     

Studying single molecule electrochemistry with scanning tunneling microscope break-junction technique

The fundamental principle of molecular electronics is to comprehend electrical properties of single molecules connected between two probe electrodes. In recent years, substantial advances in this field have been made to underpin experimental and theoretical understanding of single molecule electrochemistry. By using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) break-junction technique, the switching events of electrical current from single molecule bridge tuning by electrochemical gating are investigated to uncover the relationship between electrochemical electron transfer and charge transport processes in chemical and biological molecule junctions. In this short review, we outline the latest works of single molecule electrochemistry studied with STM break-junction technique from Nongjian Tao's group, and share the insights on the opportunities and challenges for future research.     

Controlling organic reactions on silicon surfaces with a scanning tunneling microscope: theoretical and experimental studies of resonance-mediated desorption

The dynamics of tip-induced, resonance-mediated bond-breaking in complex organic adsorbates is studied theoretically and experimentally. Desorption of benzene from a Si(100) surface is found to be efficient and sensitive to voltage, the measured yield rising from below 10(-10) to ca. 10(-6) per electron within a ca. 0.8 V range at low (< 100 pA) current. A theoretical model, based upon first principles electronic structure calculations and quantum mechanical wavepacket simulations, traces these observations to multi-mode dynamics triggered by a transition into a cationic resonance. The model is generalized to provide understanding of, and suggest a means of control over, the behaviour of different classes of organic adsorbates under tunneling current.     

Electric field effect on the vibration of single CO molecules in a scanning tunneling microscope junction

A low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and ab initio calculations were used to study the electric field effect on the vibration of single CO molecules in an STM junction at 13 K. The vibrational energy of CO molecules adsorbed on silver atoms, measured by STM-based inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy, depends on the direction of the electric field applied between the STM tip and the silver species. This characteristic can be explained by the charge separation model. The electric field modifies the binding characteristics of CO on silver as a result of a change in the charged states of the species, which leads to an increase (or a decrease) of the energies of the hindered rotation and the CO stretch on silver.     

Potential distribution in the solution interface of a scanning tunneling microscope

The linearized Poisson—Boltzmann equation is solved in the region between a sphere and a plane, which is modelling the electrolyte solution interface between the tip and the substrate in a scanning tunneling microscope. A series expansion in modified Bessel functions and Legendre polynomials, which are solutions to the linearized Poisson—Boltzmann equation, is used to fit the boundary conditions. Another numerical method of finite difference is also used with the domain transformed into bispherical coordinates. Results for cases of different potential values on the boundary surfaces and different distances of the sphere from the plane are presented.     

A fully computerized modular scanning tunneling microscope system

Summary We have developed a fully computerized scanning tunneling microscope (STM) based on an AT-compatible computer equipped with a digital-signal-processor (DSP). All functions of the instrument, such as coarse approach, feedback-control, and scan, are under complete digital control. An Inchworm is used for coarse approach and a single tube scanner for x-, y-, and z-motions. The design is modular and, thus, open to future improvements of single components and a variety of different applications.     

Fast scanning tunneling microscope in constant current mode

Summary The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is discussed as a high resolution supplement to an optical microscope. The maximum velocity of the tip relative to the sample is estimated. A design of a large area STM is sketched and first scans of a gold covered mica surfaces imagined in constant-current mode with tip speeds up to 20 m/s are shown.

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Schnelles Rastertunnelmikroskop im Konstantstrom-Mode

     

Imaging and vibrational spectroscopy of single pyridine molecules on Ag(110) using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was used to extract the images of single, isolated pyridine molecules adsorbed on Ag(110) and to record their vibrational spectrum at 13 K. On the STM image, the pyridine molecule appears as an elongated protrusion along the [001] direction on top of a silver atom, indicating that it is bonded through its nitrogen lone pair electrons. STM inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy of the adsorbed pyridine revealed C-D and C-H stretch modes at 282 and 378 meV, respectively.     

Imaging sequential dehydrogenation of methanol on Cu(110) with a scanning tunneling microscope

Adsorption of methanol and its dehydrogenation on Cu(110) were studied by using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Upon adsorption at 12 K, methanol preferentially forms clusters on the surface. The STM could induce dehydrogenation of methanol sequentially to methoxy and formaldehyde. This enabled us to study the binding structures of these products in a single-molecule limit. Methoxy was imaged as a pair of protrusion and depression along the [001] direction. This feature is fully consistent with the previous result that it adsorbs on the short-bridge site with the C-O axis tilted along the [001] direction. The axis was induced to flip back and forth by vibrational excitations with the STM. Two configurations were observed for formaldehyde, whose structures were proposed based on their characteristic images and motions.     

A scanning tunneling microscope study of single platinum atoms,platinum dimers and trimers on highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite

We report a topographic study of platinum clusters on highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) using a scanning tunneling microscope operating in air. The particles were produced by evaporation of platinum onto the graphite-surface in high vacuum. The simultaneous finding of single platinum atoms, clusters and small particles on an otherwise clean and atomically flat surface shows that the platinum-HOPG surface interaction is strong enough to yield stable images of Pt atoms and yet is not strong enough to annihilate the Pt-Pt interaction. Small flat platinum clusters on HOPG can be imaged with atomic resolution of the cluster and the surrounding graphite lattice. We show the adsorption site distribution for the monomers. The Pt-dimers show a very broad bond length distribution on graphite with an average of 2.46 Å. We found two types of Pt-trimers, one which is almost linear and one of triangular form. The average nearest neighbour distance of the trimers is 2.61 Å.     

Kinetics of the bimolecular initiation process in the thermal reactions of ethylene

The initial rates of formation of the major products in the thermal reactions of ethylene at temperatures in the neighborhood of 750 K have been measured in the presence and absence of the additive butene-1. It has been shown that this ratio of rates is related to the ratio of rate constants for the two initiation processes: The ratio k′₁/k₁ has been measured over the temperature range of 700–773 K and may be expressed as (R = 1.987 cal/mol deg) log k′₁k₁(mol/L) = 2.8 ? 4400/2.3RT. Assuming a value for k′₁ of log k′₁ (s^?1) = 16 ? 71,500/2.3RT, the value of k₁ may be expressed as log k₁(L/mol) = 13.2 ? 67,000/2.3RT. The values for the frequency factor and activation energy for reaction (1) are discussed in relation to the heat of formation of the vinyl radical, and it is concluded that reaction (1) is the main initiation process in the thermal decomposition of ethylene under the present conditions.     

Selective internal manipulation of a single molecule by scanning tunneling microscopy

We have studied the adsorption of the polyaromatic molecule 1,4"-paratriphenyldimethylacetone, which we have nicknamed Trima. The originality of this linear molecule is that it was designed and synthesized to have two functionalities. First, chemisorb itself to the surface by its two ends rather like a bridge. Second, the central part of the molecule could then be rotated by injecting electrons with the tip of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The length of the molecule corresponds exactly to the spacing between five dimers in a row on the Si(100)-2 x 1 surface. We found that the molecule adsorbs as expected on the clean silicon surface by using complementary STM and synchrotron radiation studies. Manipulation of individual molecules with the STM tip showed selective internal modifications that were highly voltage dependent. These manipulations were found to be compatible with an electronic excitation of the pi-pi* transition of the molecule.     

钴卟啉修饰电极对分子氧电催化还原的扫描隧道显微镜研究

利用扫描隧道显微镜(STM)研究了高定向热解石墨(HOPG)和玻璃碳电极(GC)表面的性质, 并对修饰钴卟啉后的表面形貌变化进行了探讨。结合修饰钴卟啉前后的循环伏安结果和STM形貌图, 讨论了电极表面的结构对分子氧的电催化还原反应的影响。从微观角度阐述了GC电极对氧的电催化还原活性明显高于HPOG电极的内在因素,为修饰电极的表面性能研究提供了经验。     

Adsorption of noble gases on metal surfaces and the scanning tunneling microscope

Physisorption on metal surfaces, and the tunneling currents through the adsorbed species, are calculated using a unified formalism that presents both problems on the same footing. Our method is based on a self-consistent LCAO approach whereby the different interaction parameters defining the bonds, and the tunneling currents, are calculated using the atomic properties of the atomic species forming the interface. Green function methods and the Keldish formalism are used to calculate the different physical properties. We present results for xenon adsorbed on aluminum.     

Current and noise in a model of an alternating current scanning tunneling microscope molecule-metal junction

The transport properties of a simple model for a finite level structure (a molecule or a dot) connected to metal electrodes in an alternating current scanning tunneling microscope (ac-STM) configuration is studied. The finite level structure is assumed to have strong binding properties with the metallic substrate, and the bias between the STM tip and the hybrid metal-molecule interface has both an ac and a dc component. The finite frequency current response and the zero-frequency photoassisted shot noise are computed using the Keldysh technique, and examples for a single-site molecule (a quantum dot) and for a two-site molecule are examined. The model may be useful for the interpretation of recent experiments using an ac-STM for the study of both conducting and insulating surfaces, where the third harmonic component of the current is measured. The zero-frequency photoassisted shot noise serves as a useful diagnosis for analyzing the energy level structure of the molecule. The present work motivates the need for further analysis of current fluctuations in electronic molecular transport.     

Simulation of scanning tunneling microscope images of 1,3-cyclohexadiene bound to a silicon surface

Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images of 1,3-cyclohexadiene bound to silicon are interpreted using a nonequilibrium Green's function method. The resolution of the carbon-carbon double bond for positive bias voltages but not for negative bias voltages is explained using a quasiprobability density analysis. The asymmetry in the images arises from the system's voltage dependent electronic structure. A pi* orbital is found to be responsible for the empty state STM images of the carbon-carbon double bond, which is observed experimentally. The pi orbital relevant for the opposite bias does not produce an STM image sharply localized in the bond region because the molecule induces a Si-surface dipole dependent on the bias. The dipole voltage dependence arises from molecular charging. This result emphasizes the importance of simulating the molecule as an element in an open quantum system.     

Dehydrogenation of aromatic molecules under a scanning tunneling microscope: pathways and inelastic spectroscopy simulations

We have performed a theoretical study on the dehydrogenation of benzene and pyridine molecules on Cu(100) induced by a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Density functional theory calculations have been used to characterize benzene, pyridine, and different dehydrogenation products. The adiabatic pathways for single and double dehydrogenation have been evaluated with the nudge elastic band method. After identification of the transition states, the analysis of the electronic structure along the reaction pathway yields interesting information on the electronic process that leads to H-scission. The adiabatic barriers show that the formation of double dehydrogenated fragments is difficult and probably beyond reach under the actual experimental conditions. However, nonadiabatic processes cannot be ruled out. Hence, in order to identify the final dehydrogenation products, the inelastic spectra are simulated and compared with the experimental ones. We can then assign phenyl (C6H5) and alpha-pyridil (alpha-C5H4N) as the STM-induced dehydrogenation products of benzene and pyridine, respectively. Our simulations permit us to understand why phenyl, pyridine, and alpha-pyridil present tunneling-active C-H stretch modes in opposition to benzene.     

Fabrication and investigation of nanostructures on transition metal dichalcogenide surfaces using a scanning tunneling microscope

Nanometer-scale holes have been fabricated on the surfaces of the semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) by applying voltage pulses from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) operating in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). It was found that the tip geometry (tip shape and sharpness) influences the formation and structure of the atomic-scale nanostructures. Threshold voltage ranges for the surface modification of MoTe2 (3.0 +/- 0.3 V) and MoS2 (3.4 +/- 0.3 V) were determined. Negative sample voltage pulses applied to a p-type MoTe2 surface produced much larger and deeper nanometer-scale holes when compared with those produced by positive voltage pulses. The existence of threshold voltages and the pulse polarity dependence of nanostructure fabrication suggests that an electric field evaporation mechanism is applicable. Support for this mechanism was obtained by nanostructuring metallic TMDC NbSe2, where both the produced features and the threshold voltages (3.0 +/- 0.3 V) were similar for both positive and negative voltage pulses.     

Mechanical characterization of nanofibers using a nanomanipulator and atomic force microscope cantilever in a scanning electron microscope

The mechanical characterization of polymeric nanofibers is essential to explore the potential for their applications in structural materials, such as nanofiber-reinforced polymer composites. A ‘hooking’ method using a nanomanipulator and atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever was developed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). First, a single electrospun nanofiber was suspended over a trench in a substrate. The midpoint of the nanofiber was then hooked by the AFM cantilever. As the AFM cantilever moved in the transverse direction of the nanofiber, the nanofiber was elongated until it fractured. The hooking and elongation processes were controlled by a nanomanipulator. This method features an affordable configuration and loading mechanism, because it does not rely on the firm grip of the nanofiber at both ends. Nanofibers with different diameters were tested using this method, demonstrating that nanofibers with a smaller diameter have greater strength and, thus, are highly suitable for use as a nano-reinforcement in composite applications.