Sub-nanometer lateral resolution in photon emission from C₆₀ molecules on Au(110)

We have used a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) as a local electron source to excite photon emission from ordered monolayers of C60 molecules on Au (110) surfaces. In maps of the STM stimulated photon emission the C60 molecules have been spatially resolved. The photon emission is most intense when the tip is centered above a molecule. The diameter of the emission spot is approximately 4 Å. The results demonstrate the highest spatial resolution of light emission to date using a scanning probe technique. © 1994.