Apparent tunneling barrier height and local work function of atomic arrays
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
Neda Noei1, Alexander Weismann1, Richard Berndt1
1Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany.
Abstract:
Spatially resolved measurements of the apparent tunneling barrier height Φapp in scanning tunneling microscopy have been used to estimate variations of the local work function Φ of surface structures. We experimentally show that Φapp can fail as a measure of Φ. The discrepancies are attributed to a kinetic-energy contribution to Φapp. This contribution depends on the lateral extent of the tunneling current filament and, consequently, on the local surface structure.
More Related Videos
05:04Author Spotlight: Introduction to Active Probe Atomic Force Microscopy with Quattro-Parallel Cantilever Arrays
Published on: June 13, 2023
12:30Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing for the Quantification of Endothelial Proliferation, Barrier Function, and Motility
Published on: March 28, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Apparent Weight
Consider a person standing on a bathroom scale inside an elevator. If the scale is accurate at rest, its reading equals the...
Atomic Orbitals
Atomic Structure
The Energies of Atomic Orbitals
Atomic Mass
Apparent Weight and the Earth's Rotation
For an object on the Earth's equator, the net centripetal force that accounts for its rotation is the Earth's pull towards its center, or the weight minus the normal force that prevents it from piercing into the Earth's surface....