Abstract
Gold is the optimal tip metal for light emission in scanning tunnelling microscopy (LESTM) under ambient conditions. Sharp Au-tips of similar to 10nm radius were produced reliably using a safe, two-step etching method in 20% (w/w) CaCl2 solution. Previous CaCl2-based methods have tended to produce blunter tips, while other etching techniques that do produce sharp Au-tips, do so with the use of toxic or hazardous electrolytes. The tips are characterised using scanning electron microscopy and their efficacy in LESTM is evidenced by high-resolution, simultaneous topographic and photon mapping of Au(1 1 1)- and polycrystalline Au-surfaces. Spectra of the optical emission exhibit only one or two peaks with etched tips in contrast to the more complex spectra typical of cut tips; this feature, together with the highly symmetric geometry of the tips, facilitates a definitive analysis of the light emission process. (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V.. All rights reserved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 558-566 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Ultramicroscopy |
| Volume | 108 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2008 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Instrumentation