Flexible probes have shown promise in improving resolution and sensitivity in various scanning probe microscopy based imaging and spectroscopy techniques. However, it has not been utilized in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) based break-junction (BJ) and fixed-junction (FJ) techniques. In this report, flexible STM tips are facilely fabricated by using gold-coated quartz nanopipettes. The feasibility of using conductive nanopipettes as STM tips is demonstrated by using the STM BJ technique to repeatedly form stable gold quantum point contacts and reliably measure their conductance at an ambient condition. These nanopipette tips are surprisingly durable in the measurements. The junction formation rate and the lifetime of the formed gold atomic junctions are found to be greatly improved using flexible tips. In addition, the most probable lifetime of single-atom junctions formed by the STM FJ method reaches the natural bond lifetime. Thermally activated gold atom relaxations near the banks of the long-lived single-atom contacts are clearly revealed, permitting the insightful study of the mechanical and electrical properties of single gold atoms or atomic-chain structures. In contrast to the conventional solid metal probes, the flexible probes show significant advantages in creating and stabilizing the single-atom junctions, providing exciting opportunities for STM based techniques, molecular electronics, and biosensors.

中文翻译：

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由挠性探针形成的长寿命金单原子结，用于扫描隧道显微镜应用

在各种基于扫描探针显微镜的成像和光谱技术中，柔性探针已显示出提高分辨率和灵敏度的希望。但是，它尚未用于基于扫描隧道显微镜（STM）的断裂连接（BJ）和固定连接（FJ）技术。在此报告中，使用镀金的石英纳米移液器可轻松制造出柔性STM吸头。通过使用STM BJ技术重复形成稳定的金量子点触点并在环境条件下可靠地测量其电导率，证明了使用导电纳米吸管作为STM吸头的可行性。这些纳米移液器吸头在测量中非常耐用。发现使用柔性尖端可以大大提高结的形成速率和形成的金原子结的寿命。此外，通过STM FJ方法形成的单原子结最可能的寿命达到了自然键的寿命。清楚地揭示了长寿命单原子接触的两岸附近的热活化金原子弛豫，从而可以对单个金原子或原子链结构的机械和电学性质进行深入研究。与传统的固态金属探针相比，柔性探针在创建和稳定单原子结方面显示出显着优势，为基于STM的技术，分子电子学和生物传感器提供了令人兴奋的机会。允许对单个金原子或原子链结构的机械和电学性质进行深入研究。与传统的固态金属探针相比，柔性探针在创建和稳定单原子结方面显示出显着优势，为基于STM的技术，分子电子学和生物传感器提供了令人兴奋的机会。允许对单个金原子或原子链结构的机械和电学性质进行深入研究。与传统的固态金属探针相比，柔性探针在创建和稳定单原子结方面显示出显着优势，为基于STM的技术，分子电子学和生物传感器提供了令人兴奋的机会。