Probing single nanometer-scale particles with scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopies

G. S. McCarty, J. C. Love, J. G. Kushmerick, L. F. Charles, C. D. Keating, B. J. Toleno, M. E. Lyn, A. W. Castleman, M. J. Natan, P. S. Weiss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy can be used to isolate single particles on surfaces for further study. Local optical and electronic properties coupled with topographic information collected by the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) give insight into the intrinsic properties of the species under study. Since each spectroscopic measurement is done on a single particle, each sample is 'monodisperse', regardless of the degree of heterogeneity of the original preparation. We illustrate this with three example systems - a metal cluster of known atomic structure, metal nanoparticles dispersed from colloid suspensions, and metallocarbohedrenes (Met-Cars) deposited with other reaction products. Au and Ag nanoparticles were imaged using a photon emission STM. The threshold voltage, the lowest bias voltage at which photons are produced, was determined for Au nanoparticles. Electronic spectra of small clusters of Ni atoms on MoS2 were recorded. Preliminary images of Zr-based Met-Car-containing soot were obtained on Au and MoS2 substrates and partial electronic spectra were recorded of these possible Met-Car particles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)459-466
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Nanoparticle Research
Volume1
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We gratefully acknowledge support from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Grants #F49620-97-1-0183 and #F49620-98-1-0406), the National Science Foundation, including the REU program (JCL), the National Institutes of Health, the Office of Naval Research, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Air Products, the Exxon Education Foundation, and the Petroleum Research Fund administered by the American Chemical Society.

Funding

We gratefully acknowledge support from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Grants #F49620-97-1-0183 and #F49620-98-1-0406), the National Science Foundation, including the REU program (JCL), the National Institutes of Health, the Office of Naval Research, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Air Products, the Exxon Education Foundation, and the Petroleum Research Fund administered by the American Chemical Society.

FundersFunder number
Air Products
Exxon Education Foundation
National Science Foundation
National Institutes of Health
Office of Naval Research
Air Force Office of Scientific Research49620-97-1-0183, 49620-98-1-0406
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund

    Keywords

    • Colloids
    • Met-cars
    • Nanoparticles
    • Photon emission
    • STM
    • Spectroscopy

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Probing single nanometer-scale particles with scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this