Manipulating atoms and molecules with a scanning tunneling microscope

Abstract

We report recent developments in the manipulation of atoms and molecules adsorbed on metal surfaces using a scanning tunneling microscope. We demonstrate that individual adsorbates can be positioned with atomic precision with the "sliding process" in which the tip is dragged in close proximity atop the adsorbed atom or molecule. Using this process we have successfully built simple structures from Xe atoms on the Ni(110) surface as well as from CO molecules and Pt atoms on a Pt(111) substrate. © 1992.