The ISTM is useful in the study of the effect of acids and bases on metals and the surfaces of semiconductors (some experiments are described below). Cutting the platinum-iridium tip or preparing the tungsten tip and mounting the sample are hands-on activities that give students a glimpse of the technological nanoworld. This state-of-the-art instrumentation is making it possible for students to actually view atoms in their own classroom. What is truly amazing, however, is that the ISTM can be set up and atomic resolution images obtained in about an hour.

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