The effect of chemically modified tips on STM imaging was investigated. An
electrochemical technique was used to prepare a monolayer of sulfur and iod
ine on the apex of STM tips. The chemically modified STM tips were first em
ployed to image a 1-octadecanethiol (1-C18H37SH) adlayer on a highly orient
ed pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. The images acquired with S-modified t
ips could ascertain the structural detail of thiol groups of the adsorbed m
olecules, while that acquired with I-modified tips appeared in a low resolu
tion. The contrast variations of STM images are attributed to the changes o
f electronic states of the tips.