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Fabrication of crystals from single metal atoms
Barry, Nicolas P.E. Pitto-Barry, Anaïs Sanchez, A.M. Dove, A.P. Procter, R.J. Soldevila-Barreda, Joan J. Kirby, N. Hands-Portman, I. Smith, C.J. O'Reilly, R.K.
Barry, Nicolas P.E.
Pitto-Barry, Anaïs
Sanchez, A.M.
Dove, A.P.
Procter, R.J.
Soldevila-Barreda, Joan J.
Kirby, N.
Hands-Portman, I.
Smith, C.J.
O'Reilly, R.K.
Publication Date
2014
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2014-04-10
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Abstract
Metal nanocrystals offer new concepts for the design of nanodevices with a range of potential applications. Currently the formation of metal nanocrystals cannot be controlled at the level of individual atoms. Here we describe a new general method for the fabrication of multi-heteroatom-doped graphitic matrices decorated with very small, ångström-sized, three-dimensional (3D)-metal crystals of defined size. We irradiate boron-rich precious-metal-encapsulated self-spreading polymer micelles with electrons and produce, in real time, a doped graphitic support on which individual osmium atoms hop and migrate to form 3D-nanocrystals, as small as 15 Å in diameter, within 1 h. Crystal growth can be observed, quantified and controlled in real time. We also synthesize the first examples of mixed ruthenium–osmium 3D-nanocrystals. This technology not only allows the production of ångström-sized homo- and hetero-crystals, but also provides new experimental insight into the dynamics of nanocrystals and pathways for their assembly from single atoms.
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Barry NPE, Pitto-Barry A, Sanchez AM et al (2014) Fabrication of crystals from single
metal atoms. Nature Communications. 5: Article number 3851.
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