Patterned films of size-selected Au clusters on optical substrates

The deposition of clusters produced by gas phase aggregation is a powerful tool for tailoring nanostructured materials. We report the successful preparation of patterned size-selected Au-N (N=300-23 000) clusters, on various optical substrates (glass, quartz, polymethyl methacrylate, and mica), as relevant to applications in photonics. Characterization of the film morphologies by atomic force microscopy showed stable, monodispersed arrangement even months after deposition. Laser scanning confocal microscopy of the ensemble demonstrates that the Au cluster plasmon is preserved in these arrays.(c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.