Imaging Suzuki precipitates on NaCl : Mg2+(001) by scanning force microscopy

We present a dynamic scanning force and Kelvin microscopy study of Suzuki precipitates on clean (001) surfaces of UHV cleaved NaCl : Mg(2+). Nanometer sized precipitates with a rectangular shape on flat terraces and also at steps were found. Images with atomic resolution confirm that the precipitates are embedded in the NaCl matrix and permit the identification of each type of ion in the unit cell of the Suzuki structure. Kelvin microscopy images show always a strong bright contrast at the precipitates, which is probably due to the negative cation vacancies in the Suzuki structure.