Developments on Large-Scale Fine Synthesis Methods for Nanocluster Materials Science

Abstract

Nanoclusters composed of several to hundreds of atoms exhibit novel, size-specific properties, which cannot be found in their bulk materials. Although the unique characters of nanoclusters encourage utilization of them to functional nanomaterials, the small yield in the conventional nanocluster source limits the applications. We have developed two large-scale synthesis methods with bottom-up approaches; (1) scaling up yield of nanocluster ions enhanced with a high-power impulse magnetron-sputtering under clean reaction environment and (2) refining reaction field of the wet process by a highly miniaturized microfluidic mixer. Size-exclusive synthesis of metal nanoclusters was demonstrated by these methods.