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A new, simple, and easily reproducible method of preparing single-atom tips by electroplating Pd or Pt on single-crystal W(111) tips followed by thermal annealing in a vacuum is reported. These tips are both thermally and chemically stable and can also be regenerated when accidentally damaged. The atomic structures of the tips are identical to those prepared by vacuum evaporation, as observed by field ion microscopy. The corresponding field emission characteristics are investigated with field emission microscopy.
Kuo et al. (2004) studied this question.