Observation of electron beam induced chemistry by tunneling spectroscopy

Abstract

The technology of tunneling spectroscopy has been developed to allow the observation of in situ electron beam induced chemistry at liquid helium temperatures. In order to demonstrate the technique, we report the irradiation of a monolayer of cyanoacetic acid by a 10 keV electron beam. The formation of lead cyanide upon irradiation at 10 K is observed and is compared with the formation of nickel cyanide from cyanoacetic acid in tunneling junctions. © 1982 American Institute of Physics.