Upgrade of a variable temperature scanning tunneling microscope for nanometer-scale spectromicroscopy

IF 1.6 Q2 MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES

MethodsX Pub Date : 2025-01-07 DOI:10.1016/j.mex.2025.103156

B. Cirera , A. Sáez-Coronado , D. Arribas , J. Méndez , A. Sagwal , R. de Campos Ferreira , M. Švec , P. Merino

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Abstract

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), tip-enhanced photoluminescence (TEPL), and scanning tunneling microscope-induced luminescence (STML) combine the high spatial resolution of probe microscopies with the spectroscopic capabilities of optical techniques. Here, we describe the upgrade of an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) variable-temperature scanning probe microscope (VT-SPM) to perform tip-enhanced spectromicroscopy experiments at cryogenic temperatures. The home-made design includes a portable focusing lens (NA=0.45) that allows the simultaneous collection and injection of light from the tip-sample junction while assuring easy tip and sample transfers. We demonstrate the capabilities of our upgrade to resolve electroluminescence (EL), Raman, and TERS spectra using plasmonically active probes (Ag and Au tips) on various surfaces. We are able to observe the vibrational levels of C₆₀ deposited on Ag(111) with a lateral resolution of ∼2 nanometers. Moreover, we use the tunability of the gap plasmon distribution to observe intense anti-Stokes signals of C₆₀, highlighting the spectral sensitivity of the system. This upgrade opens new possibilities for studying surface chemistry, catalysis, and molecular electronics at state-of-the-art spatial and spectral resolutions using accessible SPM systems.

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Portable lens holder
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In-situ adjustable position
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Nanometer-scale vibrational spectroscopy

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纳米光谱显微镜用变温扫描隧道显微镜的改进。

尖端增强拉曼光谱（TERS）、尖端增强光致发光（TEPL）和扫描隧道显微镜诱导发光（STML）将探针显微镜的高空间分辨率与光学技术的光谱能力相结合。在这里，我们描述了超高真空（UHV）变温扫描探针显微镜（VT-SPM）的升级，以在低温下进行尖端增强光谱显微镜实验。自制的设计包括一个便携式聚焦透镜（NA=0.45），可以同时收集和注入来自尖端-样品连接处的光，同时确保易于尖端和样品转移。我们展示了我们的升级能力，以解决电致发光（EL），拉曼和TERS光谱使用等离子体活性探针（Ag和Au尖端）在各种表面上。我们能够以~ 2纳米的横向分辨率观察沉积在Ag（111）上的C60的振动水平。此外，我们利用间隙等离子体分布的可调性观测了C60的强反stokes信号，突出了系统的光谱灵敏度。这一升级为使用可访问的SPM系统以最先进的空间和光谱分辨率研究表面化学、催化和分子电子学开辟了新的可能性。•便携式镜头支架•原位可调位置•纳米级振动光谱。

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