ABSTRACT
We combine ambient (air) and ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) investigations together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to gain a subnanometer insight into the structure and dynamic of two-dimensional (2D) surface-supported molecular networks. The planar tetraferrocene-porphyrin molecules employed in this study undergo spontaneous self-assembly via the formation of hydrogen bonded networks at the gold substrate-solution interface. To mimic liquid phase ambient deposition conditions, film formation was accomplished in UHV by electro-spraying a solution of the molecule in chloroform onto an Au(111) substrate, thereby providing access to the full spectroscopic capabilities of STM that can be hardly attained under ambient conditions. We show that molecular assembly on Au (111) is identical in films prepared under the two different conditions, and in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. However, we observe the contrast found for a given STM bias condition to be different in ambient and UHV conditions despite the similarity of the structures, and we propose possible origins of the different imaging contrast. This approach could be valuable for the thorough characterization of surface systems that involve large molecules and are prepared mainly in ambient conditions.
ABSTRACT
We describe the fabrication, operation principles, and simulation of a coherent single-atom quantum interference device (QID) structure on Si(100) controlled by the properties of single atoms. The energy and spatial distribution of the wave functions associated with the device are visualized by scanning tunneling spectroscopy and the amplitude and phase of the evanescent wave functions that couple into the quantum well states are directly measured, including the action of an electrostatic gate. Density functional theory simulations were employed to simulate the electronic structure of the device structure, which is in excellent agreement with the measurements. Simulations of device transmission demonstrate that our coherent single-atom QID can have ON-OFF ratios in excess of 10(3) with potentially minimal power dissipation.
Subject(s)
Electronics/methods , Nanotechnology , Silicon/chemistry , Quantum TheoryABSTRACT
We demonstrate how the local density of electronic states evolves as the size and dimensionality of surface dangling bond nanowires are modified. These wires were fabricated using the probe of a scanning tunneling microscope on a hydrogen passivated n-type Si(100)-(2 × 1) surface. We demonstrate that by varying the number and arrangement of dangling bonds on the surface it is possible to arbitrarily engineer the electronic characteristic of a surface nanowire from that of a semiconductor with a controllable band gap to that of a metal.
ABSTRACT
Based on high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and temperature-programmable desorption, benzene chemisorption on vicinal and nominally flat Si(100) surfaces has been studied for various adsorption, annealing, and site blocking treatments. Three different chemisorbed benzene (C6H6 and C6D6) phases with distinct thermal desorption characteristics and different vibrational spectra have been separated and characterized on both substrates. All three phases are identified as 1,4-cyclohexadiene-like structures with butterfly geometry. Whereas the dominant phase is di-sigma bonded to the two Si atoms of a single Si-Si dimer, the benzene orientation (double bond orientation) in the other phases is rotated. Di-sigma bonding to Si atoms of adjacent Si-Si dimer for the latter cases is most likely. Coverage and temperature dependent conversions between the different phases have been addressed by vibrational spectroscopy.
ABSTRACT
We present a study that maps out chemical bond formation between a Pt-inked probe and a single 1,3-cyclohexadiene (1,3-CHD) molecule on Si(100). By separating the mechanical and electronic contributions to the current during the approach to contact, we show that there are significant forces between the probe and the C=C of the molecule and we track the relaxation of the molecule, the emergence of a chemical bond feature in the LDOS, and the quenching of specific molecular vibrations during bond formation.
