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Comparative study of lithium fluoride and graphite by atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Author(s) -
Meyer E.,
Heinzelmann H.,
Grütter P.,
Jung Th.,
Weisskopf Th.,
Hidber H.R.,
Lapka R.,
Rudin H.,
Güntherodt H.J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1988.tb01388.x
Subject(s) - highly oriented pyrolytic graphite , lithium fluoride , graphite , materials science , atomic force microscopy , pyrolytic carbon , conductive atomic force microscopy , atomic units , kelvin probe force microscope , molecular physics , scattering , helium , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , nanotechnology , optics , composite material , quantum mechanics , pyrolysis , inorganic chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography
SUMMARY The atomic force microscope (AFM) offers the possibility to image the topography of insulating as well as conductive surfaces. Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was chosen as an example for a layered material and compared to single crystalline lithium fluoride (LiF). Both materials are easily prepared and inert at ambient pressure. Furthermore they are well characterized by Helium atom scattering experiments and other techniques. On HOPG atomic resolution has been achieved. Distortions can be observed which we interpret as a frictional effect. In addition we performed large area scans where we seldomly observed dislocations. For the first time we present measurements on LiF, showing steps of one unit cell height. On larger areas the surface of LiF showed terraces, separated by steps of variable heights, ranging from a few ångströms to 100 Å. We used a static method to get information about the distance dependence of the force between lever and sample. By slowly expanding and retracting the sample piezo and simultaneous measurement of the lever deflection, plots were recorded, showing the force as a function of sample position. The results were compared with theoretical calculations. We could determine the tip radius and found differences between LiF and HOPG being characteristic for the samples.