Multi-scale Scanning Tunneling Microscope (Multi-STM)
Here, we present the advanced Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM), so called Multi-scale STM. Why this STM is different than other STMs? So called Multi-STM consists of two different stages, a beetle-type and a flexure-stage XYZ-scanning stage. Both stages are combined to form two stages STM that operates at room temperature in ultra-high vacuum conditions and is capable of scanning areas of up to 450 µm × 450 µm down to resolutions on the nanometer scale. Surface studies are generally preformed under UHV conditions, providing a clean environment. The UHV system as shown in fig. 1 consists of four chambers, each with different task: the preparation chamber (sample preparation), the STM chamber (STM measurement), the load lock chamber (bringing sample and tip into or out of the chamber), and the molecule deposition chamber (different molecules or adsorbates deposition). This multi-scale STM has been designed and constructed in order to investigate pre-structured metallic or semiconducting micro- and nano-structures in real space, from atomic-sized structures to the large-scale environment.
