One-dimensional chains of gold clusters on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

We have investigated the growth of gold nanoclusters on the surface of high ly oriented pyrolytic graphite in ultrahigh vacuum. Studies of ultrahigh va cuum scanning tunneling microscopy revealed that the size distribution of g old clusters was very narrow and quasi-one-dimensional chains of gold nanoc lusters of approximately 2 nm diameter were produced after being annealed a t 74 degreesC. Unlike the results obtained by previous workers, these chain s of gold clusters were not formed along steps on the substrate surface, an d some of them could even go across monoatomic steps. The orientation of ch ains of gold clusters was also dependent on the size of gold nanoclusters. These results suggest the viability of a new route to the creation of order ed nanoscale structures.