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Measurement of relation between tunneling current and tip-sample distance is carried out in  spectroscopy mode. According to (11) from chapter 1.2.1, in absence of a condensate, a typical current-height relation is an exponential current decay (Fig. 1) with a characteristic length of a few angstrom [1, 2].
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| Fig. 1. Theretical curve for Pt sample and Pt-Ro probe. |
Inspecting an experimental curve, it is possible to estimate the potential barrier height  . If tip-sample bias  is small enough, then according to chapter 1.2.2, tunneling current can be written as
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(1) |
where  ,  ,  – contact area,  – free electron mass,  – elementary charge,  – Planck's constant.
From (1) can be expressed through some analytical function of  . Finding the natural logarithm of (1) and differentiate the result by  one can obtain
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(2) |
If  , then can be expressed from (2) by following way
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(3) |
where is experessed in m–1. Emphasize, that in most cases the condition realizes practically always. For instance, if  , then expression (3) will be correct at  .
Experimental curve for Pt-flim which was measured using Pt-Ro probe in STM (Solver P47) on air, is shown on Fig. 2.
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Fig. 2. Experimental curve (semilogarithmic scale).
Solid line – approximation  . |
Substituting value of approximated straight line slope  in (3), we obtain, that  . Theoretical value of , in case, then both electrodes are produced from Pt, equals  . Thus, experimental value of
is lower by a factor about 6 than theoretical one. Most probably, the
main reason of this difference is condensate presence on electrodes
surface. Even for fresh surfaces of pyrolitic graphite at maximum values, the corresponding values of
are less than several tenths of eV. These values are deliberately less
than those known from high vacuum and low temperature STM experiments
for the same samples and tips [3]. Values of derived from experiments in air are close to those obtained using STM configured for electrochemical measurements in situ when liquid polar medium exists between sample and tip [3].
A condensate in the STM operating in air is evidently the analogue of
such a medium. Thus, the condensate occurence on the sample surface
results in the STM image quality deterioration and values of understatement.
Frequently spectroscopy is used for a determination of tip quality (sharpness). Experimental curves, which are measured at investigation of HOPG surface using "good" and "poor" sharp tip of Pt-Ro probe, is shown on Fig. 3, 4.
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| Fig. 3. spectroscopy for a "good-shape" STM tip. |
Fig. 4. spectroscopy for a "poor-shape" STM tip. |
Tip quality criterion is following: 1) if tunneling current drops twice at tip-sample distance less than 3 Å, then tip quality is very good; 2) if this distance is about 10 Å,
then atomic resolution can be still obtained on HOPG using such STM
tip; 3) if the current drops at distance equals or more than 20 Å, then this STM tip should be replaced or sharpened [4].
Summary.
- It is possible to estimate electron work-function of investigated material using spectroscopy (3).
- The difference between
experimental and table values of work-function is connected with the
condensate presence on electrodes surface.
- In practice curve is used for a determination of STM tip quality (sharpness).
Reference.
- John G. Simmons. J. Appl. Phys. – 1963. – V. 34 1793.
- G. Binnig., H. Rohrer. Helv. Phys. Acta. – 1982, – V. 55 726.
- S. Yu. Vasilev, A. V. Denisov. Journal of technical physics. – 2000, – vol. 70, num. 1 (in Russian).
- NT-MDT. Solver P47 users guide.
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