Institute of Materials Science, Dresden University of Technology, Hallwachsstr. 3, D-01602 Dresden, Germany
e-mail: pompe@tmfs.mpgfk.tu-dresden.de
| Wolfgang Pompe, Lucio C. Ciacchi, Alexander Kirchner, Michael Mertig, and Reiner Wahl
Institute of Materials Science, Dresden University of Technology, Hallwachsstr. 3, D-01602 Dresden, Germany e-mail: pompe@tmfs.mpgfk.tu-dresden.de |
|
The deposition of platinum, palladium, and silver clusters from the aqueous solution has been governed by selective adsorption in the pore channels of the protein surface. A precipitation/dissolution process with a sticking probability P<1 yields a cluster array of high periodicity. Alternatively, the cluster growth can be stimulated by electron irradiation of activated S-layers too. The formed metal clusters have been characterised by high resolution transmission electron microscopy showing a very small size distribution and a closed packed, quasi periodic distribution in the S-layer pores. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation can be used to understand the initial stage of cluster formation. The self-assembling metallic nanostructures offer challenging options for new approaches in catalysis, and nanoscale sensors development.
