Growth of Nanostructured and Functional Materials - Supported metallic nanoclusters

Few-metal atoms aggregates deposited on solid supports, usually oxides,
are close to the optimal limit of size/activity ratio in heterogenous
catalysis. Downsizing to the sub-nano dimension allows to save precious
material and maximise the ratio of active metal atoms in the aggregates.

At IMEM we are going to study the growth, aggregation, chemical nature
and reactivity of sub-nanometric metal clusters at the surfaces of
ultrathin oxide films. After defining an optimal growth protocol leading
to nanoclusters of well-defined size, shape and electronic properties,
the catalytic activity of the nanoparticles will be studies with respect to
simple reactions of environmental interest.