Tip effects in the scanning-tunneling microscopy of semiconductor electrodes

The surface properties of a WSe2 electrode have been investigated with a sc anning-tunneling microscope in an electrochemical cell. Current-potential c urves have been obtained for various electrode potentials and tunneling dis tances. They show a strong influence of the tip on the local electrode pote ntial. The main features can be understood within a simple model describing the distribution of the electrostatic potential and its effect on the loca l electronic density. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved.