Non-contact atomic force microscopy studies of (2 × 4) InP(0 0 1) surface

A sputter-cleaned indium-rich (2 × 4) InP(0 0 1) surface was investigated by non-contact scanning atomic force microscopy (NCAFM). Atomically-resolved images of the surface exhibit two different patterns. The patterns can be interpreted within the mixed dimer model of (2 × 4) reconstructed InP(0 0 1) surface. It is shown that due to contrast formation mechanism in NCAFM the features resolved are in close correspondence to scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) data. Due to chemical interaction a P-terminated tip gives the image similar to an empty-state STM image, whereas an In-terminated tip gives the image resembling a filled-state STM one. Moreover, it is shown that due to dipole–dipole interaction, NCAFM can be sensitive to orientation of In-P dimers.