A graphite study with a new air operating scanning tunnelling microscope

Abstract

SUMMARY A scanning tunnelling microscope working in air with good atomic resolution is described. Atomic corrugation of graphite samples cleaved in air has been observed with a lateral resolution considerably less than 1 Å. The height of the potential barrier is measured as a function of the time the system tip‐sample is exposed to air. An explanation for the observed giant corrugation is given.