Magnesium cluster film synthesis by helium nanodroplets

Abstract

Atomic and molecular clusters are a unique class of substances with properties that differ greatly from those of the bulk or single atoms due to changes in surface to volume ratio and finite size effects. Here, we demonstrate the ability to create cluster matter films using helium droplet mediated cluster assembly and deposition, a recently developed methodology that condenses atoms or molecules within liquid helium droplets and then gently deposits them onto a surface. In this work, we examine magnesium nanocluster films, which exhibit growth behavior comparable to low-energy cluster beam methods, and demonstrate physical properties and morphology dependent on helium droplet size.