Atomic and Molecular Manipulation with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope

TLDR

Scanning tunneling microscopy now enables precise placement of individual atoms and molecules, opening possibilities for constructing nanoscale structures atom by atom. The paper reviews recent advances in atomic and molecular manipulation and explores their potential applications in scientific research.

Abstract

The prospect of manipulating matter on the atomic scale has fascinated scientists for decades. This fascination may be motivated by scientific and technological opportunities, or from a curiosity about the consequences of being able to place atoms in a particular location. Advances in scanning tunneling microscopy have made this prospect a reality; single atoms can be placed at selected positions and structures can be built to a particular design atom-by-atom. Atoms and molecules may be manipulated in a variety of ways by using the interactions present in the tunnel junction of a scanning tunneling microscope. Some of these recent developments and some of the possible uses of atomic and molecular manipulation as a tool for science are discussed.