Datensatz

Zusammenfassung

Atomically resolved images on a MgO(001) thin film deposited on Ag(001) obtained in ultrahigh vacuum by frequency modulated atomic force microscopy at low temperature are presented and analysed. Images obtained in the attractive regime show a different type of contrast formation from those acquired in the repulsive regime. For the interpretation of the image contrast we have investigated the tip–sample interaction. Force and energy were recovered from frequency shift versus distance curves. The derived force curves have been compared to the force laws of long-range, short-range and contact forces. In the attractive regime close to the minimum of the force–distance curve elastic deformations have been confirmed. The recovered energy curve has been scaled to the universal Rydberg model, yielding a decay length of l = 0.3 nm and ΔE = 4.2 aJ (26 eV) for the maximum adhesion energy. A universal binding-energy–distance relation is confirmed for the MgO(001) thin film.