Scanning tunneling potentiometry implemented into a multi-tip setup by software

Scanning Tunneling Potentiometry of Semiconductor Junctions

A method for performing scanning tunneling potentiometry of semiconductor heterojunctions is described. The method yields a direct measure of the electrostatic potential distribution across the interface, with microscopic resolution. The measurement is accomplished by scanning the probe tip at constant sample-tip separation across the junction, and adjusting the sample-tip voltage to maintain a...

Electric field and potential around localized scatterers in thin metal films studied by scanning tunneling potentiometry

Direct observation of electric potential and field variation near local scatterers like grain boundaries, triple points and voids in thin platinum films studied by scanning tunneling potentiometry is presented. The field is highest at a void, followed by a triple point and a grain boundary. The local field near a void can even be four orders of magnitude higher than the macroscopic field. This ...

Local transport properties of thin bismuth films studied by scanning tunneling potentiometry.

Charge transport in 20–30-Å-thick Bi films is studied by scanning tunneling potentiometry at room temperature. Deposition at T5140 K onto InP-based multilayer substrates leads to flat and continuous films that are subjected to a lateral current density of up to 8310 A/cm. We find that scattering at surface defects and grain boundaries gives rise to discontinuities in the local electrochemical p...

Scanning tunneling potentiometry (STP) studies of gold islands on a thin carbon film

The technique of scanning tunneling microscopy (STMJ has been used to study the spatial variation of the electric potential on thin film surfaces. Topography and potential distribution of the film surface are measured simultaneously. A lateral voltage gradient is obtained by applying a DC voltage bias to a metal film. With our experimental arrangement potential differences of a few @V can be di...

Screening of a Luttinger liquid wire by a scanning tunneling microscope tip: II. Transport properties