Interpretation of STM images: the MoS 2 surface

From the elastic scattering quantum chemistry technique, it is shown that the images of the MoS 2 surface obtained with an STM depend on the distance between the tip apex and the surface. At large distances, the tip apex and the Mo d-bands are coupled only through the sulphur surface layer. This lea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSurface science Vol. 367; no. 2; pp. 209 - 220
Main Authors Altibelli, A., Joachim, C., Sautet, P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 1996
Subjects
Semi-empirical models and model calculations
Semiconducting surfaces
Single crystal surfaces
Tunnelling
Tunnelling
Semiconducting surfaces
Single crystal surfaces
Semi-empirical models and model calculations
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Summary:From the elastic scattering quantum chemistry technique, it is shown that the images of the MoS 2 surface obtained with an STM depend on the distance between the tip apex and the surface. At large distances, the tip apex and the Mo d-bands are coupled only through the sulphur surface layer. This leads to image the sulphur sites only. At small distances ( < 4 A ̊ ), there is a superposition between this through bond tunnelling and the direct tip apex-Mo d-bands tunnelling. This superposition is destructive and the contrast is inverted; however, the two images remain very similar, which may lead to a difficult experimental interpretation of the STM images when the tip apex-to-surface distance is not well controlled.
ISSN:0039-6028
1879-2758
DOI:10.1016/S0039-6028(96)00864-3