The interaction between neutral silver clusters and graphite surfaces was studied by cluster deposition and aggregation experiments. It was shown that the cluster diffusion was strongly influenced by the surface curvature. Convexly bent areas act as repulsive barriers for the cluster diffusion. Bent areas could therefore be used as constraints and guides, in which clusters aggregate quasi-one-dimensionally to organized, elongated silver structures with diameters below 20nm.

Bent Graphite Surfaces as Guides for Cluster Diffusion and Anisotropic Growth. Schmidt, M., Kébaïli, N., Lando, A., Benrezzak, S., Baraton, L., Cahuzac, P., Masson, A., Bréchignac, C.: Physical Review B, 2008, 77[20], 205420