Article Title

Size-dependent dissociation of small cobalt clusters on ultrathin NaCl films

Authors

Zhe Li, Laboratory of Solid-State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Hsin-Yi Tiffany Chen, Department of Engineering and System Science, “National Tsing Hua University”, Hsinchu 30013
Koen Schouteden, Laboratory of Solid-State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Thomas Picot, Laboratory of Solid-State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Arnaud Hillion, Laboratory of Solid-State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Gianfranco Pacchioni, Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali, Università di Milano-Bicocca, I-20125 Milano, Italy
Chris Van Haesendonck, Laboratory of Solid-State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Ewald Janssens, Laboratory of Solid-State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Peter Lievens, Laboratory of Solid-State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium

Keywords

cobalt clusters, mass selection, size-dependent fragmentation, scanning tunneling microscopy, density functional theory

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mass-selected anionic cobalt clusters of two different sizes (Co2 and Co13) were deposited onto ultrathin NaCl films grown on an Au(111) substrate. Using scanning tunneling microscopy experiments and density functional theory simulations, we show that the deposited Co2 cluster dissociates and that the resulting Co atoms dope the NaCl surface by substituting Na ions. In contrast, the larger Co13 cluster does not dissociate and remains stable on top of the NaCl film. The sizedependent fragmentation of clusters is an important aspect in the understanding of the chemical interaction between size-selected small aggregates of atoms and supporting surfaces.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1520-8

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Zhe Li,Hsin-Yi Tiffany Chen,Koen Schouteden,Thomas Picot,Arnaud Hillion,Gianfranco Pacchioni,Chris Van Haesendonck,Ewald Janssens,Peter Lievens, Size-dependent dissociation of small cobalt clusters on ultrathin NaCl films. NanoRes.2017, 10(5): 1832–1839