Real-time imaging of K atoms on graphite: interactions and diffusion

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at liquid helium temperature is used to image potassium adsorbed on graphite at low coverage (≈0.02 monolayer). Single atoms appear as protrusions on STM topographs. A statistical analysis of the position of the atoms demonstrates repulsion between adsorbates, which is quantified by comparison with molecular dynamics simulations. This gives access to the dipole moment of a single adsorbate, found to be 10.5±1 D. Time-lapse imaging shows that long-range order is broken by thermally activated diffusion, with a 30 meV barrier to hopping between graphite lattice sites.