Atomically precise naked cluster assemblies from ligand-stabilized clusters: New materials for catalysis (APCA)

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Horst Hahn; Professor Dr. Manfred Kappes
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation ; Analytical Chemistry ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 444658217

We will develop and apply a previously untested procedure to prepare 2- and 3-D arrays of atomically precise coinage metal clusters on UHV clean surfaces - towards studying their physical and chemical properties. This is based on the synthesis of ligand-stabilized metal clusters, their electrospray ionization, (partial) ligand stripping in gas-phase followed by mass-selection and soft-landing deposition. We aim for mass-selected ion currents of > 10 nA which will allow for the generation of thin film materials. Apart from probes of the electronic and geometric structure of the assemblies and how these change with cluster-surface and cluster-cluster interactions we will explore the catalytic activity of the resulting materials - focusing in particular on coinage metal clusters doped with Pt, Pd or Ir.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: India
• Major Instrumentation: HEISI ion source (see component list in application - each below €10000)
• Partner Organisation: Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Thalappil Pradeep