Single short voltage pulse induced superstructure on the graphite surface

Single 5 V, 200 ns voltage pulse induced superstructure was observed on the basal plane of graphite. The origin of the superstructure on the graphite is ascribed to the sudden strong repulsive and attractive tip-sample forces introduced by the voltage pulse. Different kinds of mechanism are discussed and ruled out. The images of induced superstructure without atomic resolution are explained according to Moire´-rotation and small translation of the topmost graphite layer with respect to the underlying graphite substrate. # 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.