Fabrication of crystals from single metal atoms

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 3851
• Main Authors: Barry, Nicolas P E, Pitto-Barry, Anaïs, Sanchez, Ana M, Dove, Andrew P, Procter, Richard J, Soldevila-Barreda, Joan J, Kirby, Nigel, Hands-Portman, Ian, Smith, Corinne J, O'Reilly, Rachel K, Beanland, Richard, Sadler, Peter J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 27.05.2014; Nature Pub. Group
• Subjects: Crystallization; Electrons; Graphite - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Metals - chemistry; Micelles; Osmium - chemistry; Ruthenium - chemistry; Time Factors
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4851

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.