Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Local Information with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

  • Chapter
Springer Handbook of Surface Science

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

  • 2831 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter reviews the main concepts of imaging, spectroscopy, and manipulation by scanning tunneling microscopy, an experimental technique that, since its invention in 1981, has strongly changed surface science and has proven to be much more than an imaging technique. After a historical introduction, we will describe the working principle of scanning tunneling microscopy and the role of tunneling electrons for performing local electron spectroscopy. In the second part of the chapter, we present the different possible manipulation methods that allow us to build structures atom by atom or molecule by molecule. Manipulation with the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope allows us to obtain precise local information about mechanical properties and interactions, and opens the way to applications in atomic-scale technologies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 309.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • G. Binnig, H. Rohrer: Scanning tunneling microscopy – From birth to adolescence, Rev. Mod. Phys. 59, 615–625 (1987)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • G. Binnig, H. Rohrer, C. Gerber, E. Weibel: 7 × 7 reconstruction on Si(111) resolved in real space, Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 120–123 (1983)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • D.M. Eigler, P.S. Weiss, E.K. Schweizer, N.D. Lang: Imaging Xe with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope, Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 1189–1192 (1991)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J.K. Spong, H.A. Mizes, L.J. LaComb Jr, M.M. Dovek, J.E. Frommer, J.S. Foster: Contrast mechanism for resolving organic molecules with tunnelling microscopy, Nature 338, 137–139 (1989)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J.K. Gimzewski, E. Stoll, R.R. Schlittler: Scanning tunneling microscopy of individual molecules of copper phthalocyanine adsorbed on polycrystalline silver surfaces, Surf. Sci. 181, 267–277 (1987)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Morgenstern, N. Lorente, K.-H. Rieder: Controlled manipulation of single atoms and small molecules using the scanning tunnelling microscope, Phys. Status Solidi (b) 250, 1–81 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Joachim, L. Plévert: Nanosciences: The Invisible Revolution (World Scientific, Singapore 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Binnig, H. Rohrer, C. Gerber, E. Weibel: Surface studies by scanning tunneling microscopy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 57–61 (1982)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • K.-H. Rieder: “Oh yes, oh yes, these are the atoms!” A personal recollection from the times of the invention of the STM, Chimia 66, 8–9 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Stroscio, R.M. Feenstra, A.P. Fein: Electronic structure of the Si(111)2×1 surface by scanning-tunneling microscopy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 57, 2579–2582 (1986)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Repp, G. Meyer, S.M. Stojković, A. Gourdon, C. Joachim: Molecules on insulating films: Scanning-tunneling microscopy imaging of individual molecular orbitals, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 026803 (2005)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • F.J. Giessibl: Advances in atomic force microscopy, Rev. Mod. Phys. 75, 949–983 (2003)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • N. Pavliček, L. Gross: Generation, manipulation and characterization of molecules by atomic force microscopy, Nat. Rev. Chem. 1, 0005 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Gross, F. Mohn, N. Moll, P. Liljeroth, G. Meyer: The chemical structure of a molecule resolved by atomic force microscopy, Science 325, 1110–1114 (2009)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • N. Lorente, M. Persson, L.J. Lauhon, W. Ho: Symmetry selection rules for vibrationally inelastic tunneling, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 2593–2596 (2001)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • C.J. Chen: Introduction to Scanning Tunneling Microsopy (Oxford Univ. Press, New York 1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Wiesendanger: Scanning Probe Microscopy and Spectroscopy: Methods and Applications (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • A.M. Moore, P.S. Weiss: Functional and spectroscopic measurements with scanning tunneling microscopy, Annu. Rev. Anal. Chem. 1, 857–882 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • J.H. Coombs, M.E. Welland, J.B. Pethica: Experimental barrier heights and the image potential in scanning tunneling microscopy, Surf. Sci. 198, L353–L358 (1988)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Krüger, F. García, F. Eisenhut, D. Skidin, J.M. Alonso, E. Guitián, D. Pérez, G. Cuniberti, F. Moresco, D. Peña: Decacene: On-surface generation, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 56, 11945–11948 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Smerieri, J. Pal, L. Savio, L. Vattuone, R. Ferrando, S. Tosoni, L. Giordano, G. Pacchioni, M. Rocca: Spontaneous oxidation of Ni nanoclusters on MgO monolayers induced by segregation of interfacial oxygen, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 6, 3104–3109 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Bardeen: Tunnelling from a many-particle point of view, Phys. Rev. Lett. 6, 57–59 (1961)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Tersoff, D.R. Hamann: Theory and application for the scanning tunneling microscope, Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 1998–2001 (1983)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Tersoff, D.R. Hamann: Theory of the scanning tunneling microscope, Phys. Rev. B 31, 805–813 (1985)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • W. Kohn, L.J. Sham: Self-consistent equations including exchange and correlation effects, Phys. Rev. 140, A1133–A1138 (1965)

    ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • P. Hohenberg, W. Kohn: Inhomogeneous electron gas, Phys. Rev. 136, B864–B871 (1964)

    ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • P. Sautet, C. Joachim: Electronic interference produced by a benzene embedded in a polyacetylene chain, Chem. Phys. Lett. 153, 511–516 (1988)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • P. Sautet: Images of adsorbates with the scanning tunneling microscope: Theoretical approaches to the contrast mechanism, Chem. Rev. 97, 1097–1116 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Sautet, C. Joachim: Calculation of the benzene on rhodium STM images, Chem. Phys. Lett. 185, 23–30 (1991)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • L. Gross, N. Moll, F. Mohn, A. Curioni, G. Meyer, F. Hanke, M. Persson: High-resolution molecular orbital imaging using a p-wave STM Tip, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 086101 (2011)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • P. Hapala, G. Kichin, C. Wagner, F.S. Tautz, R. Temirov, P. Jelínek: Mechanism of high-resolution STM/AFM imaging with functionalized tips, Phys. Rev. B 90, 085421 (2014)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • B.C. Stipe, M.A. Rezaei, W. Ho: Localization of inelastic tunneling and the determination of atomic-scale structure with chemical specificity, Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 1724 (1999)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J.-L. Bredas: Mind the gap!, Mater. Horiz. 1, 17–19 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Meyer, A. Wadewitz, Lokamani, C. Toher, R. Gresser, K. Leo, M. Riede, F. Moresco, G. Cuniberti: Molecules for organic electronics studied one by one, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 13, 14421–14426 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Krüger, F. Eisenhut, J.M. Alonso, T. Lehmann, E. Guitián, D. Pérez, D. Skidin, F. Gamaleja, D.A. Ryndyk, C. Joachim, D. Peña, F. Moresco, G. Cuniberti: Imaging the electronic structure of on-surface generated hexacene, Chem. Comm. 53, 1583–1586 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Krüger, N. Pavliček, J.M. Alonso, D. Pérez, E. Guitián, T. Lehmann, G. Cuniberti, A. Gourdon, G. Meyer, L. Gross, F. Moresco, D. Peña: Tetracene formation by on-surface reduction, ACS Nano 10, 4538–4542 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • W.H. Soe, C. Manzano, A. De Sarkar, N. Chandrasekhar, C. Joachim: Direct observation of molecular orbitals of pentacene physisorbed on Au(111) by scanning tunneling microscope, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 176102 (2009)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Meyer, R. Ohmann, A. Nickel, C. Toher, R. Gresser, K. Leo, D.A. Ryndyk, F. Moresco, G. Cuniberti: Influence of organic ligands on the line shape of the Kondo resonance, Phys. Rev. B 93, 155118 (2016)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • D.M. Eigler, E.K. Schweizer: Positioning single atoms with a scanning tunnneling microscope, Nature 344, 524–526 (1990)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • F. Moresco: Manipulation of large molecules by low-temperature STM: Model systems for molecular electronics, Phys. Rep. 399, 175–225 (2004)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Stroscio, D.M. Eigler: Atomic and molecular manipulation with the scanning tunneling microscope, Science 254, 1319 (1991)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • T.A. Jung, R.R. Schlittler, J.K. Gimzewski, H. Tang, C. Joachim: Controlled room-temperature positioning of individual molecules: Molecular flexure and motion, Science 217, 181–184 (1996)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • L. Bartels, G. Meyer, K.-H. Rieder: Basic steps of lateral manipulation of single atoms and diatomic clusters with a scanning tunneling microscope tip, Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 697–700 (1997)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • D.M. Eigler, C.P. Lutz, W.E. Rudge: An atomic switch realized with the scanning tunnelling microscope, Nature 352, 600–603 (1991)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • I. Swart, T. Sonnleitner, J. Niedenführ, J. Repp: Controlled lateral manipulation of molecules on insulating films by STM, Nano Lett. 12, 1070–1074 (2012)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • M. Lastapis, M. Martin, D. Riedel, L. Hellner, G. Comtet, G. Dujardin: Picometer-scale electronic control of molecular dynamics inside a single molecule, Science 308, 1000–1003 (2005)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • P.A. Sloan, S. Sakulsermsuk, R.E. Palmer: Nonlocal desorption of chlorobenzene molecules from the Si(111)–(7×7) surface by charge injection from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope: Remote control of atomic manipulation, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 048301 (2010)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • S.W. Hla, L. Bartels, G. Meyer, K.-H. Rieder: Inducing all steps of a chemical reaction with the scanning tunneling microscope tip: Towards single molecule engeneering, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2777–2780 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • J. Henzl, M. Mehlhorn, H. Gawronski, K.-H. Rieder, K. Morgenstern: Reversible cis–trans isomerization of a single azobenzene molecule, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 45, 603–606 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Nickel, T. Lehmann, J. Meyer, F. Eisenhut, R. Ohmann, D.A. Ryndyk, C. Joachim, F. Moresco, G. Cuniberti: Electronically driven single-molecule switch on silicon dangling bonds, J. Phys. Chem. C 120, 27027–27032 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Y. Kim, K. Motobayashi, T. Frederiksen, H. Ueba, M. Kawai: Action spectroscopy for single-molecule reactions – Experiments and theory, Prog. Surf. Sci. 90, 85–143 (2015)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Y.-Q. Xu, Z. Jun, B.-K. Yuan, K. Deng, R. Yang, X.-H. Qiu: Electric field assisted hopping of tert-butylamine on Cu(111) surface, Acta Phys. Chim. Sin. 26, 2686–2690 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • B.C. Stipe, M.A. Rezaei, W. Ho: Inducing and viewing the rotational motion of a single molecule, Science 279, 1907–1909 (1998)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • M. Böhringer, K. Morgenstern, W.D. Schneider, R. Berndt: Separation of a racemic mixture of two-dimensional molecular clusters by scanning tunneling microscopy, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 38, 821–823 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • X. Bouju, C. Joachim, C. Girard: Single-atom motion during a lateral STM manipulation, Phys. Rev. B 59, R7845–R7848 (1999)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • F. Moresco, G. Meyer, K.-H. Rieder, H. Tang, A. Gourdon, C. Joachim: Recording intramolecular mechanics during the manipulation of a large molecule, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 088302 (2001)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Nickel, J. Meyer, R. Ohmann, H.-P. Jacquot de Rouville, G. Rapenne, F. Ample, C. Joachim, G. Cuniberti, F. Moresco: STM manipulation of a subphthalocyanine double-wheel molecule on Au(111), J. Phys. Condens. Matter 24, 404001 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Alemani, L. Gross, F. Moresco, K.-H. Rieder, C. Wang, X. Bouju, A. Gourdon, C. Joachim: Recording the intramolecular deformation of a 4-legs molecule during its STM manipulation on a Cu(211) surface, Chem. Phys. Lett. 402, 180–185 (2005)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • L.J. Whitman, J.A. Stroscio, R.A. Dragoset, R.J. Celotta: Manipulation of adsorbed atoms and creation of new structures on room-temperature surfaces with a scanning tunneling microscope, Science 251, 1206–1210 (1991)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • R. Martel, P. Avouris, I.-W. Lyo: Molecularly adsorbed oxygen species on Si(111)–(7×7): STM-induced dissociative attachment studies, Science 272, 385–388 (1996)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • M. Alemani, M.V. Peters, S. Hecht, K.-H. Rieder, F. Moresco, L. Grill: Electric field-induced isomerization of azobenzene by STM, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128, 14446–14447 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • R.A. van Delden, M.K.J. ter Wiel, M.M. Pollard, J. Vicario, N. Koumura, B.L. Feringa: Unidirectional molecular motor on a gold surface, Nature 437, 1337–1340 (2005)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • U.G.E. Perera, F. Ample, H. Kersell, Y. Zhang, G. Vives, J. Echeverria, M. Grisolia, G. Rapenne, C. Joachim, S.-W. Hla: Controlled clockwise and anticlockwise rotational switching of a molecular motor, Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 46–51 (2013)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Nickel, R. Ohmann, J. Meyer, M. Grisolia, C. Joachim, F. Moresco, G. Cuniberti: Moving nanostructures: Pulse-induced positioning of supramolecular assemblies, ACS Nano 7, 191–197 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Ohmann, J. Meyer, A. Nickel, J. Echeverria, M. Grisolia, C. Joachim, F. Moresco, G. Cuniberti: Supramolecular rotor and translator at work: On-surface movement of single atoms, ACS Nano 9, 8394–8400 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Joachim, G. Rapenne (Eds.): Single Molecular Machines and Motors (Springer, Cham 2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Kolmer, C. Joachim (Eds.): On-Surface Atomic Wires and Logic Gates (Springer, Cham 2017)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Francesca Moresco

Authors
  1. Francesca Moresco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesca Moresco .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dipt. di Fisica, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy

    Mario Rocca

  2. Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Talat S. Rahman

  3. Dipt. di Fisica, Università di Genova and IMEM-CNR Unità di Genova, Genova, Italy

    Luca Vattuone

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Moresco, F. (2020). Local Information with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. In: Rocca, M., Rahman, T.S., Vattuone, L. (eds) Springer Handbook of Surface Science. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46906-1_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation