Studies of individual nanometer-sized metallic clusters using scanning tunneling microscopy, field emission, and field ion microscopy

Abstract

Individual clusters of gold, grown in a gas aggregation reactor and deposited on a variety of different substrates, have been studied using a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy, field emission techniques, and field ion microscopy. The scanning tunneling microscope studies show that by proper choice of substrate, individual nanometer-sized clusters can be reproducibly imaged and studied. The field emission and field ion microscope studies yield information about the work function and melting temperature of individual supported clusters.