Dislocation of antimony clusters on graphite by means of dynamic plowing nanolithography

Antimony clusters of different shapes and dimensions have been obtained by evaporating antimony on graphite. The dependence of the shape and dimension s of the particles on the evaporation parameters (effective layer thickness , temperature, pressure) is discussed. A characterisation of the different structures is presented. In particular, the decoration of graphite steps is discussed. Clusters have been dislocated by means of dynamic plowing nanol ithography, both in vector and in image pattern mode. The dependence of the energy needed to dislocate a cluster on its dimensions and position is dis cussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.