A New Interpretation of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope Image of Graphite

Journal Article · Mon Jun 02 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Chemical Physics, 348(1-3):233-236

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphys.2008.03.019· OSTI ID:979520

Zeinalipour-Yazdi, Constantinos D; Pullman, David P

In this work, highly-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy images of graphite basal plane are obtained and theoretical computations are performed to explain the resolution of only half the atoms in STM images of graphite. Our experimental and computational findings indicate that the bright elliptical spots observed in trigonal STM images of graphite may not correspond to carbon positions but to p-states localized above alternate carbon–carbon bonds. This interpretation is based on STM experiments that suggest that the elliptical shape of the bright spots may not be a tip artifact and on simulated STM images of a graphite using orthorhombic unit cells that are in excellent agreement with experimentally obtained images.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 979520
• Journal Information: Chemical Physics, 348(1-3):233-236, Journal Name: Chemical Physics, 348(1-3):233-236
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory