Nanometer-scale hole formation on graphite using a scanning tunneling microscope
Albrecht, T. R. ; Dovek, M. M. ; Kirk, M. D. ; Lang, C. A. ; Quate, C. F. ; Smith, D. P. E.
Woodbury, NY : American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Published 1989
Woodbury, NY : American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Published 1989
| ISSN: |
1077-3118
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| Source: |
AIP Digital Archive
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| Topics: |
Physics
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| Notes: |
We present a reproducible technique for forming holes on a graphite surface with a scanning tunneling microscope. The holes have an average diameter of 40 A(ring) (20 A(ring) minimum) with an average resolvable spacing of 60 A(ring). Holes are produced by applying a short voltage pulse (3–8 V, 10–100 μs) across the tunneling gap which removes one or more layers of graphite in a small region directly below the tip. Arrays of hundreds of holes have been formed with yields as high as 99.6%. The writing process has a higher success rate in air or in the presence of water vapor. This suggests that the physical mechanism is a chemical process.
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| Type of Medium: |
Electronic Resource
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| URL: |