Abstract
Kelvin probe force spectroscopy was used to characterize the charge distribution of individual molecules with polar bonds. Whereas this technique represents the charge distribution with moderate resolution for large tip-molecule separations, it fails for short distances. Here, we introduce a novel local force spectroscopy technique which allows one to better disentangle electrostatic from other contributions in the force signal. It enables one to obtain charge-related maps at even closer tip-sample distances, where the lateral resolution is further enhanced. This enhanced resolution allows one to resolve contrast variations along individual polar bonds.
- Received 27 February 2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.076101
© 2015 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Seeing a Bond’s Polarity
Published 13 August 2015
A new scanning-probe-microscopy technique can image the polarity of individual chemical bonds.
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