Quantifying the evolution of atomic interaction of a complex surface with a functionalized atomic force microscopy tip.

ABSTRACT: Terminating the tip of an atomic force microscope with a CO molecule allows data to be acquired with a well-known and inert apex. Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the electrostatic interaction, indicating in some cases that the negative charge at the apex of the CO dominates, whereas in other cases the positive charge at the end of the metal tip dominates. To clarify this, we investigated [Formula: see text](111). [Formula: see text] is an ionic crystal and the (111) surface does not possess charge inversion symmetry. Far from the surface, the interaction is dominated by electrostatics via the negative charge at the apex. Closer to the surface, Pauli repulsion and CO bending dominate, which leads to an unexpected appearance of the complex 3-atom unit cell. We compa

SUBMITTER: Liebig A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7445177 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature