Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy*

Among the layered transition metal dichalcogenides, the compounds that exhibit in-plane anisotropy are of particular interest as they offer an additional tuning knob for their novel properties. In this talk we focus on studying the nanoscale lattice structure of semiconducting ReS₂ by using an ultrahigh vacuum, room temperature scanning tunneling microscope. We demonstrate that rhenium atoms form diamond-shaped clusters, organized in disjointed chains. We further characterize the structure and properties of lattice defects in the anisotropic planes of ReS₂.