Sample heating and simultaneous temperature measurement in inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy

A method is described whereby the oxide surface in inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) experiments may be heated resistively with its temperature measured simultaneously via a four-point probe scheme. The utility of the method insofar as surface chemistry experimentation is concerned is demonstrated by following the dehydroxylation of the Al2O3 barrier in an Al–Al2O3–Pb tunnel junction as the preparation temperature is increased from 20 to 250 °C.