Potential distribution in the solution interface of a scanning tunneling microscope

Abstract

The linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation is solved in the region between a sphere and a plane, which is modelling the electrolyte solution interface between the tip and the substrate in a scanning tunneling microscope. A series expansion in modified Bessel functions and Legendre polynomials, which are solutions to the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation, is used to fit the boundary conditions. Another numerical method of finite difference is also used with the domain transformed into bispherical coordinates. Results for cases of different potential values on the boundary surfaces and different distances of the sphere from the plane are presented. © 1992.