A perspective to STM manipulation at the atomic scale

Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is a powerful tool in the realm of nanotechnology, utilized in diverse disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, and materials science. One remarkable feature of STM is its ability to manipulate individual atoms or molecules through an STM tip. This capability enables the construction of molecular assemblies, the precise fabrication of nanostructures, and the investigation of exotic quantum phenomena at the atomic or molecular level. Herein, the main technique details of tip manipulation are elucidated, and its representative applications are highlighted, including single atom/molecule motion, tip-induced on-surface synthesis of cyclo[n]carbons, tailoring electrical and magnetic properties of atomic building blocks as well as probing luminescence properties of individual molecules. The future Perspective of STM/atomic force microscopy tip manipulation technique is discussed.