Tunneling microscopy study of the graphite surface in air and water

Abstract

The recent work of Park and Quate has demonstrated that atomic resolution images of graphite can be obtained in air. Here, we compare our experimental results on graphite in air and water to theoretical calculations. We present an image in close qualitative agreement with the theory and other images which can be understood by considering how images can be degraded under real experimental conditions. In addition, we present images showing graphite to be atomically flat over ${10}^{6}$ A${\r{}}^{2}$ areas when imaged under water.