SURFACE MODIFICATION BY DEPOSITION AND THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF TRANSITION METAL CLUSTER HALIDES

Abstract

The surface modification of various materials with small particles of sizes down to the nano scale is technologically very important. In this article we report about the use of metal-rich niobium halide cluster compounds to modify surfaces. In a deposition and subsequent decomposition procedure, small metallic particles of the refractory high-melting metal niobium are produced. These particles offer several potential areas of applications, like in heterogeneous catalysis or as hard-surface coating materials. Overall, a new, easy-to-use method for surface modifications is described.

Keywords:

• cluster
• halide
• niobium
• surface improvement

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by the Marie Curie Fellowship, within the framework of the project Advanced Training in Hybrid Technologies for Nanostructured Composites (ADVATEC), administrated by Prof. Dr. E. Burkel (Institute of Physics, University of Rostock). We thank Prof. Dr. L. Jonas (Institute of Pathology, University of Rostock), Dr. G. Holzhüter (Institute of Physics, University of Rostock) for the SEM and EDX pictures, and Prof. Dr. S. Lochbrunner (Institute of Physics, University of Rostock) for the use of his laser equipment.