ϟ
 
DOI: 10.1063/1.370656
¤ OpenAccess: Green
This work has “Green” OA status. This means it may cost money to access on the publisher landing page, but there is a free copy in an OA repository.

Electric field induced surface modification of Au

Thomas Mayer,Jack E. Houston,G. E. Franklin,A. A. Erchak,Terry A. Michalské

Electric field
Scanning tunneling microscope
Nanolithography
1999
We discuss the role of localized high electric fields in the modification of Au surfaces with a W probe using the interfacial force microscope. Upon bringing a probe close to a Au surface, we measure both the interfacial force and the field emission current as a function of separation with a constant potential of 100 V between tip and sample. The current initially increases exponentially as the separation decreases. However, at a distance of less than ∼500 Å, the current rises sharply as the surface begins to distort and rapidly close the gap. Retraction of the tip before contact is made reveals the formation of a mound on the surface. We propose a simple model, in which the localized high electric field under the tip assists the production of mobile Au adatoms by detachment from surface steps, and a radial field gradient causes a net flux of atoms toward the tip by surface diffusion. These processes give rise to an unstable surface deformation which, if left unchecked, results in a destructive mechanical contact. We discuss our findings with respect to earlier work using voltage pulses in the scanning tunneling microscope as a means of nanofabrication.
Loading...
    Cite this:
Generate Citation
Powered by Citationsy*
    Electric field induced surface modification of Au” is a paper by Thomas Mayer Jack E. Houston G. E. Franklin A. A. Erchak Terry A. Michalské published in 1999. It has an Open Access status of “green”. You can read and download a PDF Full Text of this paper here.