Abstract
We have performed the site-specific, quantitative measurement of a local surface potential induced by atomic dipoles on a Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface by non-contact scanning nonlinear dielectric microscopy (NC-SNDM) combined with an atom-tracking technique. The measured potentials were quantitatively consistent with those estimated by a simultaneous measurement of the tunneling current, which validates a previously proposed hypothetical mechanism that explains the unexpected resemblance between the dipole and time-averaged tunneling current images in NC-SNDM imaging. The results show that an asymmetry arising in the current-voltage characteristics within the tunneling regime is governed by the local surface potential induced by atomic dipoles.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 121601 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 105 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 Sep 22 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)