Gold Bulletin, 29, 47 (1996)
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The Place of Gold in the Nano World
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| Gold Bulletin, 29, 47 - 51 (1996) |
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G.M.Francis and R.E. Palmer
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Nanotechnology is the application of science on the nanometre scale It is
a generic technology, with potential applications in a wide range of
sectors, from electronics and computing to sensors and catalysis. In this
article we ask the question, "does gold have a role in the nanoscale
world?" We have investigated the growth of three dimensional gold
nanoclusters on a graphite substrate by means of scanning tunnelling
microscopy (STM). The first stages of the growth of nanoscale gold wires
have been demonstrated, via the nucleation of gold clusters along steps of
the surface. We also show that small clusters which are approximately 1-3
nm in diameter are grown on the flat terraces, and demonstrate the
movement of larger clusters across the surface with the STM tip. Prospects
for the application of these nanoscale building blocks are discussed.
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