Scanning probe microscopy for fundamental studies in nanoscience

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My research is in the field of Nanoscience and Technology - understanding, manipulating and characterizing the properties of matter on a nanometer scale. In the past few years we have developed an impressive array of scanned probe microscopes that are the perfect tools to experimentally study nanaoscale systems. I want to obtain insights into fundamental properties of material on length scales not easily accessible by other techniques. An outcome of this research is that one can then better understand limits of present day technology and possibly ways of overcoming them. My first objective is to investigate the electrical conduction of individual molecules such as C60. The comparison of currently available experimental data with theoretical modelling is very difficult, as the atomic structure of the contact leads is of utmost importance, but usually not controlled. We are in a world-wide unique position to resolve these issues, as we have developed instrumentation allowing contact leads to be characterized and manipulated on an atomic scale. A second objective is to construct and study atomically defined three terminal devices. Three terminal devices allow more control over the active energy levels via electric gating effects. This goal will be reached by using various discoveries and molecule localization methods we have recently developed. A third objective is to perform energy level spectroscopy on quantum dots and gold nano particles using our recently developed dissipation and force microscopy techniques. We will investigate spins, control of coupling between dots and assembly of dots using DNA. Qdots are a possible qubit implementation for solid-state quantum computation. Finally, our fourth objective is to study what determines the magnetic field at which an individual single domain ferromagnetic particle switches orientation. We will combine magnetic force with transmission electron microscopy on microfabricated submicron magnets on SiN membranes to achieve this.