Name of course:
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Users Course

ECTS credits:
5 ECTS

Course parameters:
Language: English
Level of course: PhD course
Time of year: 26 October – 12 December 2020 (week 44-50)
No. of contact hours/hours in total incl. preparation, assignment(s) or the like: 28 / 60
Capacity limits: 15 participants (first-come-first-serve)

Objectives of the course:
To expand participant’s knowledge about the STM technique in theory and practice

Learning outcomes and competences:

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• Understand the principles of various types of STM instruments and their applications in different ways and environments.
• Conduct first tests when the Aarhus STM is not working properly.
• Have knowledge about the numerous possibilities provided in the software package used for operating the Aarhus STM.
• Have a better foundation of the STM technique by studying of selected articles, which enables us to identify for which research the STM can be utilized successfully.
  
  

Compulsory programme:
Active participation in the journal club and the experiments. You need to prepare one journal club (present about an article) and to prepare brief summaries of the experiments.

Course contents:
Over the last decades the phenomenal success of the STM has revolutionized our understanding of surface physics and chemistry. The application of STM has made it possible to study atomic and molecular dynamics on surfaces such as the adsorption, diffusion and reaction of gas molecules on surfaces. Furthermore, the STM technique allows one to probe locally the surface electronic structure, atom manipulation has been proven possible, and chemically selective imaging may be possible in selected cases. Recently, the development of high-pressure-STM has largely extended the application of imaging techniques to a variety of catalytic systems under nearly realistic conditions.

This course is highly practical in content through the discussion and testing of methods related to STM. It has two main elements:

1) Weekly journal club: Selected articles of key importance will be presented and discussed. Each student (or group of 2-3 students) selects a topic, about which he/she/they will present later during the course.

2) Practical exercises in groups of 2-3 students at different STM instruments.

The course is divided in presentations and discussions within the seminars and lab exercises. Special focus is on the Aarhus-STM and its various possible uses. The 5 lab exercises are thought to provide an overview on the various STM types and their use. Furthermore - with regard to the Aarhus STM, the following topics are covered, among others: Trouble shooting, starting of an STM movie, the use of other software functions and the fabrication of an STM tip. Because of the needed lab facilities, the organization of the exercises will be “dynamic”. Assigned scientists who assist the conduction of the exercises need to be contacted to agree on the exact schedule.

The course runs in weeks 44-50. At the end of the course, each participant needs to hand in brief summaries of the lab exercises.


Prerequisites:
PhD students who are using STM or planning to use it.  

Name of lecturers:
Senior Researcher Stefan Wendt, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) at AU.

Type of course/teaching methods:
Journal club and practical excercies

Literature:
Selected articles

Course homepage:
None

Course assessment:
At the end of the course, each participant needs to hand in brief summaries of the lab exercises.

Provider:
This course is organized by iNANO, Aarhus University.

Time:
26 October – 12 December (week 44-50)

Place:
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) at AU, the exact room will be announced.

Registration:
Deadline for registration is 5 October 2020.

For registration, please use this link: https://events.au.dk/STM2020

If you have any questions, please contact PhD Administrator Ida Haugaard Sørensen, e-mail: ihs@inano.au.dk or course organizer Stefan Wendt, swendt@inano.au.dk