High resolution STM - studies on graphite and Langmuir-Blodgett films

The surfaces of graphite and Langmuir-Blodgett films of diyonic, arachidic and ω-tricosenoic acids have been investigated by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). The experiments have been performed under ambient conditions in air. Depending on the film-substrate combination considered, a high degree of surface irregularities was observed as in the case of diyonic acid deposited on silicon. In contrast, bare bilayers of the Cd salts of arachidic and ω-tricosenoic acids deposited on graphite could be imaged at molecular resolution applying the current imaging mode.