• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

High-Resolution Molecular Orbital Imaging Using a p-Wave STM Tip

Leo Gross, Nikolaj Moll, Fabian Mohn, Alessandro Curioni, Gerhard Meyer, Felix Hanke, and Mats Persson
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 086101 – Published 15 August 2011
Physics logo See Viewpoint: Visualizing quantum mechanics

Abstract

Individual pentacene and naphthalocyanine molecules adsorbed on a bilayer of NaCl grown on Cu(111) were investigated by means of scanning tunneling microscopy using CO-functionalized tips. The images of the frontier molecular orbitals show an increased lateral resolution compared with those of the bare tip and reflect the modulus squared of the lateral gradient of the wave functions. The contrast is explained by tunneling through the p-wave orbitals of the CO molecule. Comparison with calculations using a Tersoff-Hamann approach, including s- and p-wave tip states, demonstrates the significant contribution of p-wave tip states.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 3 June 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.086101

© 2011 American Physical Society

Viewpoint

Key Image

Visualizing quantum mechanics

Published 15 August 2011

New STM experiments resolve the nodal structure of individual orbitals of single organic molecules.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Leo Gross1,*, Nikolaj Moll1, Fabian Mohn1, Alessandro Curioni1, Gerhard Meyer1, Felix Hanke2, and Mats Persson2

  • 1IBM Research—Zurich, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
  • 2Surface Science Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, United Kingdom

  • *lgr@zurich.ibm.com

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 8 — 19 August 2011

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×