STM IMAGING OF MOLECULES - FACTORS AFFECTING THEIR RELIABLE IMAGING

There is considerable interest in imaging of molecular species with th e STM, due to the potentially very high resolution available. Experien ce over the last few years suggests, however, that reliable and easily interpretable images are difficult to obtain. In particular, substrat e condition, conduction mechanisms of the molecular species, and molec ule-surface or tip-molecule interactions can give problems. In this pa per we discuss how uncertainties of these types may be minimised, and hence what kinds of molecules and substrates may be used to obtain rep eatable and reliable images.