Metallic Nanostructures on Surfaces

Heterogeneous catalysis is crucial in many industrial
processes. Particle size effects can influence the
catalytic behavior significantly, and is a central
question in catalytic research as to how this can be
exploited to improve activity and selectivity of a
supported catalyst. The formation and size
distribution of those metallic clusters is driven by
diffusion, coalescence and sintering phenomena. An
innovative method for buffer mediated deposition of
metal on surfaces is developed, which presents the
opportunity to create, characterize and study those
processes on supported model catalysts (nano-clusters).
This method, ranked among the Scientific American
"Top 50" in 2004, is also used to form submicron
range variable width conducting wires, using
macroscopic scale laser patterning. This is a
parallel "writing" procedure, at the size of a laser
beam. The technique is an attractive method for the
deposition of periodic and more complex patterns of
conducting wires at widths below the current limits.
It is discussed as a potential alternative for
standard photo-lithography, promising a cleaner, cost
effective and more environmentally friendly procedure.

Autorentext

Gabriel Kerner completed his Ph.D. Summa Cum Laude, focusing onSurface Sciences, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. MichaAsscher, Professor of Physical Chemistry at the HebrewUniversity, supervised the dissertation on which this book is based.

Klappentext

Heterogeneous catalysis is crucial in many industrialprocesses. Particle size effects can influence thecatalytic behavior significantly, and is a centralquestion in catalytic research as to how this can beexploited to improve activity and selectivity of asupported catalyst. The formation and sizedistribution of those metallic clusters is driven bydiffusion, coalescence and sintering phenomena. Aninnovative method for buffer mediated deposition ofmetal on surfaces is developed, which presents theopportunity to create, characterize and study thoseprocesses on supported model catalysts (nano-clusters).This method, ranked among the Scientific American"Top 50" in 2004, is also used to form submicronrange variable width conducting wires, usingmacroscopic scale laser patterning. This is aparallel "writing" procedure, at the size of a laserbeam. The technique is an attractive method for thedeposition of periodic and more complex patterns ofconducting wires at widths below the current limits.It is discussed as a potential alternative forstandard photo-lithography, promising a cleaner, costeffective and more environmentally friendly procedure.