Room Temperature UHV Scanning Probe Microscope
The room temperature, ultra high vacuum (RT-UHV) scanning probe microscope (SPM) is a custom-built system designed and fabricated here at the NPC Lab. The system currently operates in either STM mode or in a combined STM/non-contact AFM setup. The microscope has an integrated load-lock system, preparative chamber, molecular evaporator, quartz crystal microbalance, substrate heater, and tip/sample ion sputter sources. Access to this instrument typically involves a collaborative research arrangement with the NPC Lab.
Sub-molecular resolution image of a hexa-tert-butyl decacyclene (HB-DC) monolayer deposited on atomically clean Cu(100) acquired with custom (in-house) built UHV STM at room temperature.