title: Mass spectrometry and dynamics of gold adatoms observed on the surface of size-selected Au nanoclusters.
abstract: We report the imaging, mass spectrum, and dynamical behavior of adatoms and small clusters observed on the surface facets of size-selected, truncated octahedral gold clusters, Au(N) (N = 923 ± 23), via aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Our quantitative atom counting measurements show that most (~70%) of the species on the surface are single Au adatoms. Such species are now proposed as key elements of the atomic structure of both monolayer-protected nanoclusters (nanoparticles) and self-assembled monolayers and may also play a role in gold nanocatalysis. The adatoms are found on both {100} and {111} facets with similar probabilities.
authors: Nanoscale Physics Research Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
authors: Z W
authors: ZW
authors: Wang
authors: R E
authors: RE
authors: Palmer
mesh_terms: D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D006046:Gold