Design of a scanning tunneling microscope for biological applications

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) designed for biological application and operating at ambient pressure is described. It is combined with a light microscope, monitoring the specimen through a transparent support, which is used to search for specimen areas of interest. Glass or mica coated with a thin conductive layer (e.g., carbon) are used as a specimen support. The STM itself, is essentially a Besocke-type STM; modifications include a convenient and reliable mechanism for sample approach to the tip (z adjustment). (3 References)

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) for biological applications: design and performance

The design of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) for biological applications, operating at ambient pressure, is described. The STM is combined with an 'auxiliary' light microscope to facilitate finding and identifying specimen areas of interest. The performance of the STM has been tested with evaporated gold films and with graphite. The authors have evaluated evaporated carbon and platinum/carbon films deposited on glass or mica to be used as specimen supports. First applications to biological material coated with a conducting film of platinum/carbon are described. (25 References)