Abstract
Scanning tunneling microscopy images of n-alkanes, n-alcohols, n-alkylthiols and n-alkylchlorides have been obtained to determine if the STM is capable of differentiating between molecules where the only difference is the functional group at the ends of a molecule. These studies indicate that there are two possible ways of differentiating between these molecules: (1) by observing differences in the relative orientation of the molecules with respect to each other, and (2) by the magnitude of the tunneling current in the vicinity of the functional group. Using the tunneling current to differentiate between functional groups also permits identification of the position of the functional group in the molecule.
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Venkataraman, B., Flynn, G.W. (1997). Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Studies of Hydrocarbons Adsorbed on Graphite Surfaces. In: Cohen, S.H., Lightbody, M.L. (eds) Atomic Force Microscopy/Scanning Tunneling Microscopy 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9325-3_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9325-3_10
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