Molecular Imaging and Local Density of States Characterization at the Si(111)/NaOH Interface
Abstract
We present in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images with the resolution of isolated
≡
Si
—
O
X
groups on H-Si(111) in NaOH solutions with or without isopropyl alcohol
[
X
=
H
or
—
CH
(
CH
3
)
2
]
. The comparison of STM with geometric contours shows that the electronegativity of OH ligands enhances the local density of states and generates a surface potential distribution. The dependence of both observations with the radical
X
and the mechanisms of grafting are discussed.