Scanning tunneling microscopy of the tetraphenylporphyrin thin films on a graphite single-crystal substrate

Abstract

Features of the surface topography of a tetraphenylporphyrin film on a graphite single crystal (HOPG) substrate and the local current-voltage characteristics were studied using a scanning tunneling microscope under ambient conditions. STM images of surface were acquired on a scale from a few nanometers to 4 micrometers. Local tunnelling current-voltage characteristics in different ranges of bias voltage and in different directions of voltage scanning can have hysteresis due to the hopping electron conductivity in porphyrin.