Gold substrates for scanning tunneling microscopy of adsorbed species

Abstract

Atomically flat substrates of gold were prepared by evaporation onto cleaved mica for scanning tunneling microscopic and spectroscopic studies of adsorbates. The surface morphology was investigated with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and a scanning electron microscope. The STM data were analyzed through a fractallike statistical procedure. Bulk crystallography was also investigated by means of X-ray diffraction. On the gold substrate showing hydrophilic characteristics, monolayer Langmuir-Blodgett film of cadmium arachidate was deposited, and successfully imaged by STM. © 1991 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.