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Project

Modifying graphene by nanostructuring by molecular selfassembly.

We investigate the morphological, electronic and magnetic properties of few-atom aggregates using tunneling microscopy and tunneling spectroscopy, including spin-polarized tunneling spectroscopy, in ultra-high vacuum and at low temperatures. The finite size as well as the shape of the aggregates will play a dominant role due the presence of pronounced quantum confinement effects. Two types of few-atom aggregates are targeted: islands that are obtained by self-organization of deposited atoms on a surface and clusters that are preformed in the gas phase by condensation of evaporated atoms and that are subsequently size-selected and deposited with very low energy on a surface. We are looking for answers to a few fundamental questions that include how the transition from atomic to bulk behavior is occurring and whether there exist “parity effects”, i.e. if it matters whether the number of atoms forming an aggregate is odd or even. Apart from the properties of individual aggregates, we also focus on electronic and magnetic interaction of an aggregate with the underlying substrate and of the electronic and magnetic interaction between neighboring aggregates. This interaction can be controllably reduced and eliminated by growing a thin insulating film of the desired thickness between the substrate and the aggregates.

Date:3 Dec 2012 →  2 Dec 2016
Keywords:Tunnelmicroscopie, Aggregaten
Disciplines:Classical physics, Elementary particle and high energy physics, Other physical sciences