Scanning tunneling microscopy observations of mercury droplets on graphite

Scanning tunneling microscopy surface pictures of micrometer size mercury accumulated around dislocations of graphite are presented. Mercury accumulated between linear dislocations appears to have an ordered structure; cross sections of vertical layers are seen as small lines with atomic resolution. The distance between the small lines varies with atomic density. Mercury observed with one edge having a triangular shape smoothened with each scan. During the fifth scan a smooth edge, without any indication of the triangular edge, is seen. One and two atom thick mercury layers, due to strong interaction with the supporting graphite, are in the solid phase.