Intermolecular contrast in atomic force microscopy images without intermolecular bonds.
Intermolecular features in atomic force microscopy images of organic molecules have been ascribed to intermolecular bonds. A recent theoretical study [P. Hapala et al., Phys. Rev. B 90, 085421 (2014)] showed that these features can also be explained by the flexibility of molecule-terminated tips. We probe this effect by carrying out atomic force microscopy experiments on a model system that contains regions where intermolecular bonds should and should not exist between close-by molecules. Intermolecular features are observed in both regions, demonstrating that intermolecular contrast cannot be directly interpreted as intermolecular bonds.
Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science, P.O. Box 15100, 00076 Aalto, Finland.
Sampsa K
SK
Hämäläinen
Condensed Matter and Interfaces, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Nadine
N
van der Heijden
Condensed Matter and Interfaces, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Joost
J
van der Lit
Condensed Matter and Interfaces, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Stephan
S
den Hartog
Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science, P.O. Box 15100, 00076 Aalto, Finland.
Peter
P
Liljeroth
Condensed Matter and Interfaces, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Ingmar
I
Swart