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Title: Chemical contrast in STM imaging of transition metal aluminides

Abstract

The present manuscript reviews recent scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) studies of transition metal (TM) aluminide surfaces. It provides a general perspective on the contrast between Al atoms and TM atoms in STM imaging. A general trend is the much stronger bias dependence of TM atoms, or TM-rich regions of the surface. This dependence can be attenuated by the local chemical arrangements and environments. Al atoms can show a stronger bias dependence when their chemical environment, such as their immediate subsurface, is populated with TM. All this is well explained in light of combined results of STM and both theoretical and experimental electronic and crystallographic structure determinations. Since STM probes the Fermi surface, the electronic structure in the vicinity of the Fermi level (EF) is essential for understanding contrast and bias dependence. Hence, partial density of states provides information about the TM d band position and width, s–p–d hybridization or interactions, or charge transfer between constituent elements. In addition, recent developments in STM image simulations are very interesting for elucidating chemical contrast at Al–TM alloy surfaces, and allow direct atomic identification, when the surface does not show too much disorder. Overall, we show that chemically-specific imaging is often possible at thesemore » surfaces.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
1060751
Report Number(s):
IS-J 7813
Journal ID: 0079-6816
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-07CH11358
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Progress in Surface Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 87; Journal Issue: 5-8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Scanning tunneling microscopy Chemical contrast Aluminium transition metal alloys Valence band structure

Citation Formats

Duguet, T, and Thiel, Patricia A. Chemical contrast in STM imaging of transition metal aluminides. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1016/j.progsurf.2012.05.002.
Duguet, T, & Thiel, Patricia A. Chemical contrast in STM imaging of transition metal aluminides. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progsurf.2012.05.002
Duguet, T, and Thiel, Patricia A. 2012. "Chemical contrast in STM imaging of transition metal aluminides". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progsurf.2012.05.002.
@article{osti_1060751,
title = {Chemical contrast in STM imaging of transition metal aluminides},
author = {Duguet, T and Thiel, Patricia A},
abstractNote = {The present manuscript reviews recent scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) studies of transition metal (TM) aluminide surfaces. It provides a general perspective on the contrast between Al atoms and TM atoms in STM imaging. A general trend is the much stronger bias dependence of TM atoms, or TM-rich regions of the surface. This dependence can be attenuated by the local chemical arrangements and environments. Al atoms can show a stronger bias dependence when their chemical environment, such as their immediate subsurface, is populated with TM. All this is well explained in light of combined results of STM and both theoretical and experimental electronic and crystallographic structure determinations. Since STM probes the Fermi surface, the electronic structure in the vicinity of the Fermi level (EF) is essential for understanding contrast and bias dependence. Hence, partial density of states provides information about the TM d band position and width, s–p–d hybridization or interactions, or charge transfer between constituent elements. In addition, recent developments in STM image simulations are very interesting for elucidating chemical contrast at Al–TM alloy surfaces, and allow direct atomic identification, when the surface does not show too much disorder. Overall, we show that chemically-specific imaging is often possible at these surfaces.},
doi = {10.1016/j.progsurf.2012.05.002},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1060751}, journal = {Progress in Surface Science},
number = 5-8,
volume = 87,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}