Field-based scanning tunneling microscope manipulation of antimony dimers on Si(001)

Scanning tunneling microscope was used to investigate the manipulation antimony dimers, Sb2, on silicon surface. A model based on the force between the adsorbate and the tip due to the gradient of the electric field was also investigated. The manipulation led to directed hopping with asymmetry ratio of up to two under good conditions. Results showed that the energy gained by in-plane movement in the tip field is on the order of the thermal energy.