Non-destructive deposition and diffusion-aggregation of size-selected silver nanoclusters on glassy carbon substrates as probed by real-time X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Silver nanoclusters. generated and size-selected in the gas phase and soft landed on low-temperature glassy carbon substrates, were characterized by r eal-time X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It has been found that the 3d core-electron binding energies of the deposited clusters gradually decr ease with time in size-specific manners. The observation clearly showed tha t the clusters are deposited intact on the surface and diffuse and aggregat e, leading to larger clusters. This demonstrates that the real-time XPS can provide key information on states and behaviors of size-selected nanoclust ers deposited on surfaces. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserv ed.