1. Scanning tunnelling spectroscopy

2. r STM, STS, and the densities of states
includes effect of tunnel barrier shape

3. Spectroscopy – what can we learn?
dI/dV reflects major features of local density of states of the sample (+ tip) near the fermi level.
We can learn about the electronic properties (valence states) of the surface very locally!

4. Scanning Tunnelling Spectroscopy: how to do it
Switch off feedback loop and measure one of the following curves:
I(V) , I(z) , dI/dV , dI/dz , d2I/d2V
Measure curves in each point of an image,
display di/dV maps at specific voltages
Display dI/dV vs. V in points of interest
dI/dV of Ag(111) at different biases
K. Morgenstern et al., Phys. Rev. B 71 (2005)
Overgaag et al., ACS Nano, in press (2008)

5. Spectroscopy on PbSe quantum dots dimers, trimers,
Spectroscopy on PbSe and CdSe quantum dots
Spectroscopy on PbSe quantum dots dimers, trimers,
and larger aggregates
Spectroscopy on isolated PbSe quantum dots
Overgaag et al., ACS Nano, in press (2008)

6. Experimental considerations in STS
Stable STM is needed - STS is extremely sensitive to noise!
Cool sample, make sure you have good vibrational damping and a good tip.
Instead of measuring I(V) and taking the derivative:
measure dI/dV right away!
Use Lock-in amplifier.

7. Lock-in amplifier
Orthogonality relationships for sinusoidal functions:
Out of phase

8. Lock-in amplifier
e.g. I(V) curve measured over 10 seconds
(e.g.1kHz):

9. Lock-in amplifier
From material by R. Scholten – University of Melbourne

10. Lock-in amplifier – noise reduction

11. Derivative with lock-in

12. Derivative with lock-in

13. Phase control Reference has phase control Can vary from 0 to 360°
Arbitrary input signal phase
Tune reference phase to give maximum DC output
Reference
Phase
shift f
Input
Output
Mixer

14. dI/dV spectroscopy in nanowires
Modulate tunneling voltage with a 50mV ~1kHz sinus signal
Clean up current & measure dI/dV with lock-in amplifier
Now keep STM tip fixed and vary voltage to obtain dI/dV vs V
Density of states at specific positions on the surface with atom resolution!
GaAs(110)
The bright feature at (II) is a Ga vacancy (we are imaging As atoms)

15. Spectroscopy to determine doping
GaAs(110) n-type
GaAs overgrowth p-type
EF=EC-kTln(rC/rD)
EF=kTln(rV/rA)-EV
C: Conduction band
V: Valence band
A: Additional tip induced charge

16. STS on a nanowire a

18. The role of the second derivative in STS K. W. Hipps, Handbook of
Applied Solid State Spectroscopy

19. The role of the second derivative in STS
Feature enhancement
by taking the derivative
B.C. Stipe. et. al., Science 280, 1732 (1998)

20. Single Molecule Vibrational Spectroscopy
Vibration excitation of the molecule occurs when tunneling electrons have enough energy to excite a quantized vibrational level
Inelastic tunneling channel
B.C. Stipe. et. al., Science 280, 1732 (1998)

21. Further improvements and problems
Suppres exp. rise in current
Bandbending.
Changes in tip will induce changes
in tunneling spectra!!!
Safe way: compare with ab-initio theory

22. Full calculation with sample + tip!!

23. Tip influences sample...