Figure 4: Scanning tunnelling microscopy data on in-situ cleaved α-RuCl3 surface.
From: Atomic-scale observation of structural and electronic orders in the layered compound α-RuCl3
(a) Representative STM constant current image of the RuCl3 surface layer (tunnelling conditions: Utip=300 mV, Isetpoint=60 pA). Insets: 2D fast Fourier transform of the image (top left), STM cross-sectional profile along the yellow line (bottom right). (b) Averaged STS spectra over a wide energy window; U=−Utip (c) STS spectra in the narrower energy window around the Fermi level showing peaks at ≈±0.12 V (denoted by red arrows). The spectra were averaged over 40 individual dI/dU curves. Setpoint parameters: Utip=−500 mV (b), Utip=−400 mV (c); junction resistance RJ=25 GΩ (b), 20 GΩ (c). (d) Zoomed-in area from white rectangular in a; coexistence of trigonal CO and dimer-like CO shown by red circles and green ovals, respectively. (e) Three-dimensional rendered high-resolution STM image highlighting a crossover between two different phases of CO at Utip=−1.0 V, Isetpoint=100 pA.
