From Free Clusters to Cluster-Assembled Materials

Abstract

In this paper the specific properties of free clusters and the formation of new cluster-assembled materials using the low energy cluster beam deposition (LECBD) technique are discussed. Recent results obtained for free clusters are summarized with special attention to new observed structures. As for the specific structures and properties of cluster-assembled materials, two main aspects are specially emphasized: the memory effect of the free cluster properties leading to the formation of new phases and the effect of the specific nanostructure of the cluster-assembled materials related to the random cluster stacking mechanism characteristic of the LECBD. These effects and the corresponding potential applications are illustrated using some selected examples: new diamond-like carbon films produced by fullerene depositions (memory effect) and grain effect on the magnetic properties of cluster-assembled transition metal films.

Growth of nanostructures by cluster deposition: Experiments and simple models

“…3 suggests that the films are porous [58,67], which is interesting to keep one of the peculiarities of the clusters : their high surface/volume ratio which affects all the physical (structural, electronic) properties as well as the chemical reactivity (catalysis). Concerning deposition of carbon clusters, experiments [13,20] as well as simulations [68] have shown that the carbon clusters preserve their identity in the thick film. Another interesting type of nanostructured film grown by cluster deposition is the growth of cermets by combining a cluster beam with an atomic beam of the encapsulating material [69].…”

“…Ideally, by depositing the clusters with low kinetic energies, one would like to conserve the memory of the free cluster phase [13] to form thin films with original properties. Since the kinetic energy is of the order of 10 eV per cluster [66], i.e.…”

“…For further experimental details on this technique, see Refs. [13,72]. To produce clusters of refractory materials, a different evaporation technique is needed : laser vaporization [13,72,73].…”

“…[1] Among these new materials, those presenting a structure controlled down to the nanometer scale are being extensively studied [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. There are different ways to build up nanostructured systems [8] : atomic deposition [9], mechanical milling [10], chemical methods [7,11], gas-aggregation techniques [5,12,13] . .…”

Morphology and evolution of size-selected metallic clusters deposited on a metal surface:Ag19+/Pd(100)Félix1, Vandoni2, Massobrio3 et al. 1998Phys. Rev. B11190View full textAdd to dashboardCite

“…1 Over the past few years renewed effort on the preparation and understanding of the properties of clusters deposited in a matrix 2 or on a surface 3 has been undertaken, in the hope of forming nanostructures with a well-defined shape and number of atoms. Deposition at low energy of size-selected clusters on a solid substrate is well suited to achieve this goal.…”