Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
Inelastic tunneling spectroscopy using scanning tunneling microscopy on trans-2-butene molecule: spectroscopy and
Abstract:
Inelastic tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) measurement using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with a commercially available STM set up is presented. The STM-IETS spectrum measured on an isolated trans-2-butene molecule on the Pd(110) shows a clear vibrational feature in d2I/dV2 at the bias voltage of 360 mV and -363 mV, which corresponds to the nu(C-H) mode (d2I/dV2 approximately 10 nA/V2). In addition, we have obtained an image by mapping the vibrational feature of nu(C-H) in d2I/dV2. The image is obtained by scanning the tip on the surface with the feedback loop activated while the modulation voltage is superimposed on the sample voltage. With the method that is readily performable with conventional software, we have clearly differentiated the molecules of trans-2-butene and butadiene through the mapping of the vibrational feature, demonstrating its capability of chemical identification in atomic scale.
Related Concept Videos
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
2D NMR: Heteronuclear Single-Quantum Correlation Spectroscopy (HSQC)
IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent of conjugation in the...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Variable-Temperature NMR

