Scanning Probe Methods

Scanning probe microscopes (SPMs) allow the atomic scale details of flat surfaces to be imaged in real space. This is achieved through the specific interaction of a sharp probe tip with the surface. In the most frequently applied scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) technique, the specific interaction is the quantum-mechanical tunneling effect. It allows the tip to be scanned at short distance across the surface and to obtain morphological and electronic structure information down to the atomic scale.

In the Surface Science group, various scanning probe microscopy set-ups are available, including two low-temperature STM(AFM)s working at liquid helium temperature, two variable temperature STMs and an electrochemical STM.