Scanning tunneling spectroscopy.
The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has revolutionized our ability to explore and manipulate atomic-scale solid surfaces. In addition to its unparalleled spatial power, the STM can study dynamical processes, such as molecular conformational changes, by recording current traces as a function of time. It can also be employed to measure the physical properties of molecules or nanostructures down to the atomic scale. Combining STM imaging with measurement of current-voltage (I-V) characteristics [i.e., scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS)] at similar resolution makes it possible to obtain a detailed map of the electronic structure of a surface. For many years, STM lacked chemical specificity; however, the recent development of STM-IETS (inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy) has allowed us to measure the vibrational spectrum of a single molecule. This review introduces and illustrates these recent developments with a few simple scholarly examples.
Zandvliet
Harold J W
HJ
Physical Aspects of Nanoelectronics and the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. h.j.w.zandvliet@utwente.nl
van Houselt
Arie
A
D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends