Spontaneous assembly of perfectly ordered identical-size nanocluster arrays.
A method, by which periodic two-dimensional arrays of identical metal clusters of nanometer size and spacing could be spontaneously obtained by taking advantage of surface mediated clustering, is reported. The versatility of the method is demonstrated for a broad range of metals on Si(111)-(7 x 7) substrates. In situ scanning tunneling microscopy analysis of In clusters, combined with first-principles total energy calculations, unveils unique initial-stage atomic structures of the surface-supported clusters and the vital steps that lead to the success of this method. A strong interaction between the clusters and the surface holds the key to the observed cluster sizes.
Li
Jian-Long
JL
State Key Laboratory for Surface Physics and International Center for Quantum Structures, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
Jia
Jin-Feng
JF
Liang
Xue-Jin
XJ
Liu
Xi
X
Wang
Jun-Zhong
JZ
Xue
Qi-Kun
QK
Li
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
Tse
John S
JS
Zhang
Zhenyu
Z
Zhang
S B
SB