Aligning one-dimensional arrays of nanoclusters on a thin film of Al2O3 grown on vicinal NiAl surfaces

• Published in: Surface science Vol. 603; no. 3; pp. 558 - 565
• Main Authors: LUO, M. F, HUANG, J. Y, CHIANG, C. I, HU, G. R, WANG, C. C, WANG, C. T, LIN, C. W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01-02-2009
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Physics; Aluminium oxide; Vicinal NiAl; Inorganic compounds; Nanoclusters; STM; Thin films; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Vicinal surface; Solid clusters; 1D arrays; Al2O3 thin film; LEED; Arrays; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 0039-6028; 1879-2758
• DOI: 10.1016/j.susc.2008.12.017

We present a self-organised approach for the synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) arrays of supported nanoclusters. By oxidising NiAl surfaces vicinal to the (1 0 0) plane tilted along the crystallographic direction [0 1 0], we produced ordered thin films of theta-Al2O3 that exhibit uniform protrusion stripes propagating uniquely along direction [0 0 1] of the NiAl. These protrusions are preferential centres for nucleation of metal deposited from a vapour; the nanoclusters grown from such metal are aligned and form massive 1D cluster arrays along direction [0 0 1]. The arrays of Co nanoclusters exhibit a diameter as small as 3 nm and length exceeding a micrometer. The results imply prospective applications for which a patterned assembly of nanoclusters is desired.