1. Preparation of tips coated with poly(dimethylsiloxane) for scanning tunneling microscopy in aqueous solutions.
- Author
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Kuroda, Mizuki and Nishino, Tomoaki
- Subjects
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POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE , *SURFACE coatings , *SCANNING tunneling microscopy , *SOLUTION (Chemistry) , *VOLTAMMETRY , *SURFACES (Technology) , *IMAGING systems , *WATER , *ORGANIC solvents - Abstract
A simple and reliable method for preparing tips coated with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) for scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in aqueous solutions is reported. Au STM tips were dip-coated with PDMS and subsequently cured. The coated tips were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and voltammetry. We show that the PDMS layer smoothly covers the tip surface except for its very apex. These tips enable atomically resolved imaging of a sample surface and measurement of single-molecule conductance below 1.0 nS with STM in aqueous solutions. Because of the superior compatibility of PDMS with organic solvents, the PDMS-coated tips would be useful for preparing molecular tips via their chemical modification in such solvents, enabling chemically selective imaging of a single molecule in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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