Imaging Weakly Disordered Surfaces by STM

Real single crystals at room temperature and atmospheric pressure exhibit weakly disordered surfaces when these crystals are scrutinized by STM at high resolution. Under these conditions, the images usually depict smooth, defect-free surface domains. Atomic resolution for a variety of metals, semiconductors and semimetals has been obtained under UHV conditions [16]. 

The 34x34 STM image of Al(lll) in UHV with atomic resolution is shown 

Single crystal faces have also been imaged in electrochemical cells [16]. In electrochemical systems, since both the tip and the substrate are immersed in 

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