Single nanoparticle manipulation with simultaneously recorded STM-induced light emission

Room temperature manipulation of a single-metal nanoparticle with simultaneously recorded scanning tunneling microscope (STM)-induced light emission is presented. A single nanoparticle was removed from the edge of hexagonal network of particles and placed in a different site by STM tip. When it is mobile, the particle is nonluminescent whereas a fixed particle emits photons. This experiment is demonstrating a site-dependence of light emission of single particle.