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Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 29 (1990) pp. L119-L122  |Next Article|  |Table of Contents|
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Letter

Observation of Liquid Crystals on Graphite by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Masatsugu Shigeno, Wataru Mizutani¹, Mitsuru Suginoya, Manabu Ohmi, Koji Kajimura¹ and Masatoshi Ono¹

Seiko Instruments Inc.
¹Electrotechnical Laboratory

(Received September 29, 1989; accepted for publication December 6, 1989)

Molecules of liquid crystals adsorbed on graphite were observed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Liquid crystals of both smectic and nematic phases provided periodic STM images of 3-nm-spacing lines, seemingly composed of molecules with their axes vertical to the line. Detailed investigation of the images revealed that several different patterns existed in smectic liquid crystal. On the other hand, nematic liquid crystal exhibited one reproducible pattern. Monolayer, multilayer, and dimer-based molecular arrangements are discussed. Models for the molecular arrangement of the nematic liquid crystal are proposed.

URL: http://jjap.jsap.jp/link?JJAP/29/L119/
DOI: 10.1143/JJAP.29.L119

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References | Citing Articles (13)

1. J. S. Foster and J. E. Frommer: Nature 333 (1988) 542[CrossRef].
2. D. P. E. Smith, H. Hörber, Ch. Gerber and G. Binnig: Science 245 (1989) 43
3. J. K. Spong, H. A. Mizes, L. J. LaComb Jr., M. M. Dovek, J. E. Frommer and J. S. Foster: Nature 338 (1989) 137[CrossRef].
4. D. P. E. Smith, A. Bryant, C. F. Quate, J. P. Rabe, Ch. Gerber and J. D. Swalen: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 1986 (National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, 1987) p. 969.
5. W. Mizutani, M. Shigeno, K. Saito, K. Watanabe, M. Sugi, M. Ono and K. Kajimura: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 27 (1988) 1803[JSAP].
6. M. Okano and S. Kobayashi: Ekisho, Kiso-hen (Liquid Crystal, basic properties) (Baifu-kan, Tokyo, 1985) p. 17 [in Japanese].
7. G. W. Gray: Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 63 (1981) 3.

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