title: Manipulation of the charge state of single Au atoms on insulating multilayer films.
abstract: We show charge-state manipulation of single Au adatoms on 2-11 monolayer (ML) thick NaCl films on Cu surfaces by attaching or detaching single electrons via the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). Tristate charge control (neutral, negatively charged, and positively charged) is achieved. On Cu(100) and Cu(111) supports, charge tristability is achieved independently of the NaCl layer thickness. In contrast, on Cu(311), only Au anions are stable on the thinnest NaCl films, but neutral and positive charge states become sufficiently long lived on films thicker than 4 ML to allow AFM-based charge-state-manipulation experiments.
authors: IBM Research-Zurich, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Steurer
authors: Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Repp
authors: IBM Research-Zurich, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Gross
authors: Surface Science Research Centre and Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Scivetti
authors: Surface Science Research Centre and Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Persson
authors: IBM Research-Zurich, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Meyer