Application of Tunneling Microscopy in Chemistry.
Abstract
This technical report, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, included STM images of the corrosion of a thin metal film covered with salt water. This demonstrated the possibility of using scanning tunneling microscopes for the study of corrosion. We now believe, however, that the atomic force microscope will be even better suited to study this corrosion after some more development. This is because it does not apply electrical potentials of its own when it is used with an insulated tip. The problem we kept running up against with the scanning tunneling microscope, was the unknown affect of electrochemical potentials between the tunneling microscope, was the unknown effect of electrochemical potentials between the differing metals of tip and sample. That is not to say that it would be impossible for a knowledgeable electrochemical chemist to get meaningful results about corrosion, but only the atomic force microscope should be simpler to use and be useful in a much wider range of systems. (jes)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA208876
Entities
Organizations
- University of California, Santa Barbara