Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Low-Energy Electron Diffraction Studies of Quantum Wires on Si(332)

Sammanfattning:

In this master thesis I have investigated one-dimensional nanostructures, so called quantum wires. The goal was to grow them in situ on a stepped silicon surface and thereafter do several kinds of measurements, like Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Low-Energy Electron Diffraction and Photoemission. The surface that was used was a Si(332) surface and the metals used in the growth of the quantum wires were gold and silver.

After the preparation and measurement of the stepped surface, evaporation of silver and gold was performed. The Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy measurments were done on both Ag/Si(332) and Au/Si(332) surfaces. This gave information about the local density of stats on the surfaces and possible bandgaps.

All experiments were performed in ultra high vacuum, except the sample cutting and the first cleaning of the surface, which was done after the Shiraki method.