TY - JOUR
T1 - Fabrication of crystals from single metal atoms
AU - Barry, Nicolas P. E.
AU - Pitto-Barry, Anais
AU - Sanchez, Ana M.
AU - Dove, Andrew P.
AU - Procter, Richard J.
AU - Soldevila-Barreda, Joan J.
AU - Kirby, Nigel
AU - Hands-Portman, Ian
AU - Smith, Corinne J.
AU - O'Reilly, Rachel K.
AU - Beanland, Richard
AU - Sadler, Peter J.
PY - 2014/5/27
Y1 - 2014/5/27
N2 - Metal nanocrystals offer new concepts for the design of nanodevices with a range of potential applications. Currently the formation of metal nanocrystals cannot be controlled at the level of individual atoms. Here we describe a new general method for the fabrication of multi-heteroatom-doped graphitic matrices decorated with very small, ångström-sized, three-dimensional (3D)-metal crystals of defined size. We irradiate boron-rich precious-metal-encapsulated self-spreading polymer micelles with electrons and produce, in real time, a doped graphitic support on which individual osmium atoms hop and migrate to form 3D-nanocrystals, as small as 15 Å in diameter, within 1 h. Crystal growth can be observed, quantified and controlled in real time. We also synthesize the first examples of mixed ruthenium–osmium 3D-nanocrystals. This technology not only allows the production of ångström-sized homo- and hetero-crystals, but also provides new experimental insight into the dynamics of nanocrystals and pathways for their assembly from single atoms.
AB - Metal nanocrystals offer new concepts for the design of nanodevices with a range of potential applications. Currently the formation of metal nanocrystals cannot be controlled at the level of individual atoms. Here we describe a new general method for the fabrication of multi-heteroatom-doped graphitic matrices decorated with very small, ångström-sized, three-dimensional (3D)-metal crystals of defined size. We irradiate boron-rich precious-metal-encapsulated self-spreading polymer micelles with electrons and produce, in real time, a doped graphitic support on which individual osmium atoms hop and migrate to form 3D-nanocrystals, as small as 15 Å in diameter, within 1 h. Crystal growth can be observed, quantified and controlled in real time. We also synthesize the first examples of mixed ruthenium–osmium 3D-nanocrystals. This technology not only allows the production of ångström-sized homo- and hetero-crystals, but also provides new experimental insight into the dynamics of nanocrystals and pathways for their assembly from single atoms.
UR - http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000337373800003&KeyUID=WOS:000337373800003
U2 - 10.1038/ncomms4851
DO - 10.1038/ncomms4851
M3 - Article
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 5
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
M1 - 3851
ER -