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Quantitative Atomic Force Microscopy with Carbon Monoxide Terminated Tips

Zhixiang Sun (孙志祥), Mark P. Boneschanscher, Ingmar Swart, Daniël Vanmaekelbergh, and Peter Liljeroth
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 046104 – Published 27 January 2011
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Abstract

Noncontact atomic force microscopy (AFM) has recently progressed tremendously in achieving atomic resolution imaging through the use of small oscillation amplitudes and well-defined modification of the tip apex. In particular, it has been shown that picking up simple inorganic molecules (such as CO) by the AFM tip leads to a well-defined tip apex and to enhanced image resolution. Here, we use the same approach to study the three-dimensional intermolecular interaction potential between two molecules and focus on the implications of using molecule-modified AFM tips for microscopy and force spectroscopy experiments. The flexibility of the CO at the tip apex complicates the measurement of the intermolecular interaction energy between two CO molecules. Our work establishes the physical limits of measuring intermolecular interactions with scanning probes.

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  • Received 29 October 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.046104

© 2011 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Sharp end

Published 31 January 2011

Mapping out the force between two molecules offers a way to test out a new, high-resolution force microscopy technique.

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Authors & Affiliations

Zhixiang Sun (孙志祥)1, Mark P. Boneschanscher1, Ingmar Swart1,2, Daniël Vanmaekelbergh1, and Peter Liljeroth1,3,*

  • 1Condensed Matter and Interfaces, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  • 2Institute for Experimental and Applied Physics, University of Regensburg, Germany
  • 3Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science, Finland

  • *P.Liljeroth@uu.nl

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Issue

Vol. 106, Iss. 4 — 28 January 2011

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