https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2007-00226-2
Tip-induced distortions in STM imaging of carbon nanotubes
1
Experimentelle Physik I, Universität Dortmund, 44221 Dortmund, Germany
2
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Nöthnitzer Str. 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany
3
Theoretische Physik, FB 18 and Center for Interdisciplinary Nanostructure Science and Technology, Universität Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany
Corresponding author: a us@mpipks-dresden.mpg.de
Received:
25
January
2007
Revised:
23
May
2007
Published online:
29
June
2007
By means of STM measurements and fully self-consistent transport calculations we analyze how STM trajectories for the mapping of nanostructures on surfaces are affected by the atomic structure of the tip. For the particular case of carbon nanotubes we show that considerable distortions of the STM trajectory with respect to the actual structure, position and diameter of the nanotube can occur for certain tip geometries. Comparison between theory and experiment can allow to characterize and correct these distortions.
PACS: 68.37.Ef – Scanning tunneling microscopy (including chemistry induced with STM) / 73.63.-b – Electronic transport in nanoscale materials and structures / 61.48.+c – Fullerenes and fullerene-related materials
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2007
