Spatially resolved scanning probe electron energy spectroscopy for Ag islands on a graphite surface.

The scanning probe electron energy spectra for micron-sized Ag islands on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite substrate are measured. One- and two-dimensional relative intensity distributions for Ag or graphite plasmon peaks have been acquired and a lateral resolution of 4.8+/-2.4 microm has been achieved. It is the first time for the scanning probe electron energy spectroscopy technique to obtain the spatially resolved electron energy spectra with elemental contrast for a surface, which demonstrates the possibility of the element identification for the scanning tunneling microscope.