Au/ITO dual-layer-coated optical fiber probe for multifunctional scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract

We have fabricated an Au/ITO (indium-tin-oxide) dual-layer optical fiber probe with functions for high-quality scanning tunneling microscope (STM) imaging and near-field excitation and detection of STM-induced electroluminescence (STML). The inner ITO layer is kept approximately 150 nm in thickness to ensure the conductivity of the fiber probe. The outer Au layer is kept approximately 13 nm in thickness to obtain a better combination of high electron injection efficiency and optical transparency. High-quality STM images, and STML corresponding to maximum quantum efficiencies of 7 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-4) photons/electron are obtained on Au(111)/mica and p-GaAs(110) surfaces at room temperature (RT), respectively. The outer Au layer on the Au/ITO-coated fiber probe shows an effective role in improving the quality of STM imaging, the tip apex geometry and durability of the fiber probe, the stability and reproducibility of STML and enhancing the intensity of plasmon-mediated STML from the Au(111) surface but it shows no effect in enhancing the intensity of STML from the GaAs(110) surface.