Correlating STM contrast and atomic-scale structure by chemical modification: Vacancy dislocation loops on FeO/Pt(1 1 1)

By chemically modifying the FeO(1 1 1) thin film on Pt(1 1 1), we show that it is possible to unambiguously correlate its STM morphology with its underlying structure without recourse to STM simulations. Partial reduction of the oxide surface leads to the formation of triangularly-shaped oxygen vacancy dislocation loops at specific sites in the moiré structure of the film. Their presence allows unambiguous identification of the high-symmetry domains of the moiré structure, whose differing chemical properties govern the templating effect on adsorbed metal atoms, clusters and molecules.