The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is used to image self-assembled n-decanol monolayers at the liquid/Au( 11 1) interface. The STM image shows a hexagonally close-packed array with a superstructure pattern of alternating areas of high and low contrast. Intermolecular spacing was measured to be approximately 0.5 nm. The observed image contrast is consistent with the polar head groups being adsorbed at inequivalent sites on the substrate.
We report on scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images of physisorbed n-decanol at the liquid/graphite interface. The STM image contrast within the molecules is observed to change as a function of bias voltage. The origin of this image contrast is found to be related to the electronic structures associated with the functional groups within the molecules. This enables us to selectively image the molecule’s hydroxyl head group and the alkane tail at different bias voltages.
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