Probing the electronic transport on the reconstructed Au/Ge(001) surface

• Published in: Beilstein journal of nanotechnology Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 1463 - 1471
• Main Authors: Krok, Franciszek, Kaspers, Mark R, Bernhart, Alexander M, Nikiel, Marek, Jany, Benedykt R, Indyka, Paulina, Wojtaszek, Mateusz, Möller, Rolf, Bobisch, Christian A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Beilstein-Institut 05.09.2014
• Subjects: Au on Ge; electronic transport; Full Research Paper; multi probe STM; Nanoscience; Nanotechnology; scanning tunnelling potentiometry; electronic transport; multi probe STM; Au on Ge; scanning tunnelling potentiometry
• ISSN: 2190-4286; 2190-4286
• DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.5.159

By using scanning tunnelling potentiometry we characterized the lateral variation of the electrochemical potential µec on the gold-induced Ge(001)-c(8 × 2)-Au surface reconstruction while a lateral current flows through the sample. On the reconstruction and across domain boundaries we find that µec shows a constant gradient as a function of the position between the contacts. In addition, nanoscale Au clusters on the surface do not show an electronic coupling to the gold-induced surface reconstruction. In combination with high resolution scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, we conclude that an additional transport channel buried about 2 nm underneath the surface represents a major transport channel for electrons.