The question, whether stable "magic'' silicon clusters are suitable as building blocks for new cluster materials is examined. Si_4 cluster are soft-landed on an inert Van-der-Waals surface and the island formation is studied using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS data indicate that the clusters do not fuse to Si islands but survive as individuals. The potential energy surface of two Si clusters is calculated and a barrier against fusion is found in agreement with the experiments. Both
findings support the existence of a new form of silicon consisting of Si_4 clusters.
By: M. Grass, D. Fischer, M. Mathes, G. Gantefoer and P. Nielaba
Published in: RZ3405 in 2002
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