Surface Science Letters Modification of thin gold films with the scanning tunneling microscope

Thin gold films, which were deposited by sputter deposition onto highly oriented graphite surfaces, were investigated and modified by means of a scanning tunneling microscope. By applying short voltage pulses to the vertical piezoelectric element or to the tunneling tip, hole patterns were generated. Physical mechanisms underlying the modifications are discussed for the two methods. ” 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.