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Abstract

In scanning tunnelling microscope images of thin Al2O3-films grown on Ni3Al(111) at 1000 K two super-lattices with periodicities of 2.6 and 4.5 nm, respectively, can be identified. These well-ordered nanostructures can be used as nucleation centres for metal particle growth. It can be shown that both nanostructures act as a template for the fabrication of ordered assemblies of metal clusters by mere physical vapour deposition. The degree of ordering of these nanostructures is largely dependent on the metal deposited. Here we report on the growth of Cu, Ag, Au, Mn, and V clusters on the Al2O3-films. The best results as far as ordering of the clusters is concerned was reached for V deposition at 550 K, which resulted in a nearly perfect hexagonal array of clusters with a spacing of 2.6 nm.