Possibilities for atom by atom restructuring of surfaces employing native substrate atoms as well as foreign species

Abstract

Using a versatile low cost temperature-variable scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with excellent stability operating in the temperature range between 15 and 300 K we have succeeded in performing both lateral and vertical manipulation of single atoms and small molecules on a Cu(211)-substrate. Lateral manipulation and build-up of nanostructures is demonstrated for CO-molecules as well as for Pb-atoms. As recent developments we describe manipulation possibilities using native Cu substrate atoms. This leads to exciting prospects for restructuring surfaces under inclusion of deeper lying crystal planes. Recent detailed measurements of tip-height curves allow distinction of different modes of manipulation: Pushing, pulling, and sliding.