Imaging of individual adatoms on oxide surfaces by dynamic force microscopy

Abstract

An experimental study of the adsorption sites of metal adatoms on an oxide surface is presented. The adsorption sites of gold on the ultrathin aluminum oxide grown on NiAl(110) are determined. For the study low-temperature frequency modulation dynamic force microscopy is employed to identify the adsorption sites in real space. Results show that wave trough-like depressions in the alumina surface are preferred locations for gold adspecies. © 2010 The American Physical Society.