Ultra-high vacuum system with combined STM/SFM operating at low temperatures

我们描述了一种扫描力显微镜，它在低温下工作在超高真空中，在低温浴液中工作。该仪器适用于在各种表面上获得原子分辨率。特别是，尖端被冷却，这允许在尖端放置原子或分子，并测量该原子或分子与表面之间的化学相互作用。为了能够自由选择悬臂梁的弹性常数，我们选择了梁的挠度检测方法。这使我们能够测量短程化学相互作用以及静电相互作用。化学相互作用对于获得分子上的原子分辨率、理解新类型的化学反应以及研究分子的特定原子状态是决定性的，这对分子电子学是重要的。静电力对于理解纳米结构的电子输运和电子性质是重要的，这些纳米结构也将用于分子电子学目的。这个想法是用分子取代计算机芯片中的功能单元，并通过更深入地了解分子和表面纳米结构的基本性质来支持这一技术过渡。

We describe a Scanning Force Microscope that works in ultra-high vacuum at low temperatures in a He bath cryostate. The instrument is suitable to obtain atomic resolution on various surfaces. In particular the tip is cooled and this allows to place an atom or molecule on the tip and to measure the chemical interaction between this atom or molecule and the surface. We choose a beam-deflection detection method in order to be able to choose freely the spring constant of the cantilever. This allows us to measure both short-range chemical interactions as well as electrostatic interactions. The chemical interactions are decisive to obtain atomic resolution on molecules, to understand new types of chemical reactions and to study particular atomic states of molecules that are important for molecular electronics. The electrostatic forces are important to understand electronic transport and electronic properties of nanostructures that are also to be used for molecular electronics purposes. The idea is to replace the functional units in computer chips, today fabricated from semiconductors, by molecules and to support this technological transition by a deeper understanding of the fundamental properties of molecules and nanostructes on surfaces.