Applied Physics Letters · 1996 · 13 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceNanomaterialsSurface EngineeringSurface ScienceElectron MicroscopyScanning Probe MicroscopySurface DiffusionSurface PhysicsTunnelingAnisotropic Transport PropertiesAnisotropyElectron DiffusionField EmissionPyrolytic GraphiteScanning Electron MicroscopyScanning Tunneling Microscopy Of Surface DiffusionSurface Diffusion Mechanisms
The characteristics of the nanostructure on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) involving field emitted electrons is examined with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). A simple model based on the continuum electron diffusion is proposed and is compared with the experimental results. It suggests that the process could be associated with the diffusion of electrons at the vicinity of the injection position. It also implies that the characteristics of the as-produced nanometer sized craters could be correlated to the anisotropy degree of the transport properties of HOPG.