Abstract
Scanning probe microscopy can be used to probe the internal atomic structure of flat organic molecules. This technique requires an unreactive tip and has, until now, been demonstrated only at liquid helium and liquid nitrogen temperatures. We demonstrate intramolecular and intermolecular force contrast at room temperature on PTCDA molecules adsorbed on a surface. The oscillating force sensor allows us to dynamically measure the vertical decay constant of the tunneling current. The precision of this method is increased by quantifying the transimpedance of the current to voltage converter and accounting for the tip oscillation. This measurement yields a clear contrast between neighboring molecules, which we attribute to the different charge states.
- Received 13 March 2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.066101
© 2015 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Intramolecular Imaging at Room Temperature
Published 3 August 2015
An improved take on an existing approach provides intramolecular imaging of molecules adsorbed on a solid surface at room temperature.
See more in Physics