Ni-B Nanometer Particles Observed by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

The samples of the Ni-B nanometer particles which were suitable for scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have been prepared and observed. Our experimental results suggest that the vertical height of the nanometer particles imaged by the STM has strongly related to the method of the sample preparation. For the Ni-B nanometer particle the water and impurity layer adsorbed to the particle surface played an important role in the conduction mechanism. At last alcohol can be used as a tool to disperse the nanometer particles on the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite support.