3. Prepare a metal surface – Insulating islands (NaCl or oxide)

Imagining a flat surface on a macroscopic scale is not the same as designing one on a nanoscopic scale. Indeed, at the level of precision at which picotechnologies come into play, atomically flat surfaces are required. What's more, crystallographic orientation is also important. : a surface with a trigonal atomic arrangement (e.g. a (111) surface) will not have the same electronic properties as a surface with a tetragonal atomic arrangement (typically a (100) or (110) surface).

• Metal substrates with a specific structure can be purchased from specialist companies. However, special treatment is required to ensure that sufficiently large terraces are available...