Gundlach oscillations and Coulomb blockade of Co nano-islands on MgO/Mo(100) investigated by scanning tunneling spectroscopy at 300 K

TL;DR

This study investigates the electronic properties of Co nano-islands on MgO/Mo(100) at room temperature, revealing Gundlach oscillations and Coulomb blockade effects through scanning tunneling spectroscopy, highlighting defect-related work function variations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the coexistence of Gundlach oscillations and Coulomb blockade in Co nano-islands on MgO at room temperature, linking work function variations to defect states.

Findings

Identification of charged defects with reduced work function within MgO.

Observation of Coulomb oscillations in Co islands at 300 K.

Correlation between work function variations and Coulomb blockade behavior.

Abstract

Ultrathin MgO films on Mo(100) with a thickness up to 12 ML are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy at room temperature. The spatial variation of the work function within the MgO film is mapped by field emission resonance states (Gundlach oscillations) using dz/dU spectroscopy. We found circular spots with significantly reduced work function (DeltaPhi=0.6 eV), which are assigned to charged defects within the MgO film. On top of the MgO films, small Co cluster are deposited with an average contact area of 4 nm^2. These islands exhibit Coulomb oscillations in dI/dU spectra at room temperature. Good agreement with orthodox theory is achieved showing variations of the background charge Q_0 for islands at different positions, which are in accordance with the work function differences determined by the Gundlach oscillations.