Oxidation-resistant gold-55 clusters.
Gold nanoparticles ranging in diameter from 1 to 8 nanometers were prepared on top of silicon wafers in order to study the size dependence of their oxidation behavior when exposed to atomic oxygen. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed a maximum oxidation resistance for "magic-number" clusters containing 55 gold atoms. This inertness is not related to electron confinement leading to a size-induced metal-to-insulator transition, but rather seems to be linked to the closed-shell structure of such magic clusters. The result additionally suggests that gold-55 clusters may act as especially effective oxidation catalysts, such as for oxidizing carbon monoxide.
Boyen
H-G
HG
Abteilung Festkörperphysik, Abteilung Organische Chemie III, Universität Ulm, D-89069 Ulm, Germany. hans-gerd.boyen@physik.uni-ulm.de
Kästle
G
G
Weigl
F
F
Koslowski
B
B
Dietrich
C
C
Ziemann
P
P
Spatz
J P
JP
Riethmüller
S
S
Hartmann
C
C
Möller
M
M
Schmid
G
G
Garnier
M G
MG
Oelhafen
P
P