The Chemical Structure of a Molecule Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy

Leo Gross; Fabian Mohn; Nikolaj Moll; Peter Liljeroth; Gerhard Meyer

doi:10.1126/science.1176210

journal article Aug 28, 2009

The Chemical Structure of a Molecule Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy

Leo Gross

Fabian Mohn Nikolaj Moll

Peter Liljeroth

Gerhard Meyer

Science Vol. 325 No. 5944 pp. 1110-1114 · American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

View at Publisher Save 10.1126/science.1176210

Abstract

Atomic Imaging Within Adsorbed Molecules

Scanning tunneling microscopy provides atomic resolution images of surfaces and adsorbed atoms, but imaging atoms within an organic molecule adsorbed on a surface is difficult because contrast is lacking in the states that determine the tunneling current. Atomic force microscopy should be able to resolve atoms through changes in short-range chemical forces, but resolution is lost if the scanning tip undergoes modifications or if it moves the molecule.

Gross
et al.

(p.
1110
) show that in situ functionalization of the tip—for example, with CO—can dramatically improve the resolution of images of pentacene molecules adsorbed on conducting surfaces, like copper, and nonconductors, like NaCl.

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Metrics

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Citations

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References

Details

Published: Aug 28, 2009
Vol/Issue: 325(5944)
Pages: 1110-1114

Authors

L

Leo Gross

IBM Research, Zurich Research Laboratory, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.

F

Fabian Mohn

IBM Research, Zurich Research Laboratory, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.

N

Nikolaj Moll

IBM Research, Zurich Research Laboratory, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.

P

Peter Liljeroth

IBM Research, Zurich Research Laboratory, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.; Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Post Office Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands.

G

Gerhard Meyer

IBM Research, Zurich Research Laboratory, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.

Cite This Article

Leo Gross, Fabian Mohn, Nikolaj Moll, et al. (2009). The Chemical Structure of a Molecule Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy. Science, 325(5944), 1110-1114. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1176210

The Chemical Structure of a Molecule Resolved by Atomic Force Microscopy

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