How to Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

Abstract

Scanning probe microscopies are now well-established methods for making images of molecules and materials at the atomic level. But now, scanning probe methods can also measure spectroscopic properties--the energy levels of molecules. In his Research Commentary, Pethica discusses results presented in the same issue by Stipe et al. in which a scanned probe was used to study vibrational states of molecules on surfaces. As a demonstration of the technique, the researchers were able to detect the energy shift of a deuterated form of acetylene. The combination of spatial and spectroscopic resolution should provide a powerful tool for surface scientists.