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Journal ArticleDOI

Positioning single atoms with a scanning tunnelling microscope

D. M. Eigler, +1 more
- 01 Apr 1990 - 
- Vol. 344, Iss: 6266, pp 524-526
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TLDR
In this paper, Binnig and Rohrer used the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) to position individual xenon atoms on a single-crystal nickel surface with atomic pre-cision.
Abstract
SINCE its invention in the early 1980s by Binnig and Rohrer1,2, the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) has provided images of surfaces and adsorbed atoms and molecules with unprecedented resolution The STM has also been used to modify surfaces, for example by locally pinning molecules to a surface3 and by transfer of an atom from the STM tip to the surface4 Here we report the use of the STM at low temperatures (4 K) to position individual xenon atoms on a single-crystal nickel surface with atomic pre-cision This capacity has allowed us to fabricate rudimentary structures of our own design, atom by atom The processes we describe are in principle applicable to molecules also In view of the device-like characteristics reported for single atoms on surfaces5,6, the possibilities for perhaps the ultimate in device miniaturization are evident

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI

Light–matter interaction at atomic scales

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss experimental schemes by which light-matter interaction is explored, taking advantage of light coupled into or extracted from the tunnel junction, and discuss the powerful union of photonics and scanning probe techniques.
Journal ArticleDOI

Surface resistivity: theory and applications

TL;DR: In this article, a simple relation between the change in DC resistivity Δϱ of a thin metallic film due to adsorption of molecules on the film surface and the electron-hole pair damping (life time τc−h) of the parallel frustrated translations of the adsorbates was discussed.
Journal ArticleDOI

Large molecules on surfaces: deposition and intramolecular STM manipulation by directional forces

TL;DR: This review presents examples of intramolecular manipulation experiments with rather large molecules, driven by directional, i.e. chemical or electrostatic, forces between tip and molecule.
Journal ArticleDOI

Designer quantum states of matter created atom-by-atom

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review the recent advances in creating artificial electronic and spin lattices that lead to various exotic quantum phases of matter, ranging from topological Dirac dispersion to complex magnetic order.
Book ChapterDOI

Vibrational Heating and Atom Transfer with the STM

TL;DR: In this article, a simple expression for this vibrational temperature as a function of the tunneling current is given. And the rate of atom transfer over a barrier is given for the atom transfer process and applications to other systems.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

Surface studies by scanning tunneling microscopy

TL;DR: In this paper, surface microscopy using vacuum tunneling has been demonstrated for the first time, and topographic pictures of surfaces on an atomic scale have been obtained for CaIrSn 4 and Au.
Journal ArticleDOI

Tunneling through a controllable vacuum gap

TL;DR: In this article, the first successful tunneling experiment with an externally and reproducibly adjustable vacuum gap is reported, based on the exponential dependence of the tunneling resistance on the width of the gap.
Journal ArticleDOI

Atomic-scale surface modifications using a tunnelling microscope

TL;DR: In this paper, an atomic-scale modification of the surface of a nearly perfect germanium crystal, effected by the tungsten tip of a tunnelling microscope, was reported.
Journal ArticleDOI

Negative Differential Resistance on the Atomic Scale: Implications for Atomic Scale Devices

In-Whan Lyo, +1 more
- 22 Sep 1989 - 
TL;DR: scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy are shown that the current-voltage characteristics of a diode configuration consisting of an STM tip over specific sites of a boron-exposed silicon(111) surface exhibit NDR.
Journal ArticleDOI

Molecular manipulation using a tunnelling microscope

TL;DR: The accomplishment of the smallest yet, purposeful, spatially localized changes in matter, effected on a graphite surface is reported, believing that the changes result from the pinning of individual organic molecules to the graphite.