Nanostructured materials from clusters: Synthesis and properties

The low energy cluster beam deposition technique (LECBD) is developed to pr epare original nanostructured systems from clusters preformed in the gas ph ase. The nucleation and growth mechanism specific of the cluster deposits i s studied Ln view to control the nanostructured morphology of the cluster a ssembled films, especially for future applications to high areal density de vices. Examples of the synthesis and properties of metallic nanostructures as well as covalent ones are presented. In the first case, systems from nob le metal clusters (Ag, Au, and AgxAu1-x) and transition metal based cluster s (CO, SmCo5) assemblies are studied for their original optical or magnetic properties, respectively. In the second case, covalent se mi conducting fi lms exhibiting specific electronic structures are obtained by Si, C, and Si xC1-x cage like clusters (fullerenes and heterofullerenes) depositions.