Oxide templates for self-assembling arrays of metal nanoclusters

We demonstrate that ordered arrays of metal clusters of a few nanometers in size can be fabricated by self-assembly on a range of oxide nanotemplates. Two systems were chosen, FeO/Pt(1 1 1) and Fe3O4, having in common a reconstructed close-packed oxygen surface layer. Deposition of various metal films results in the formation of nanosized clusters arranged according to the surface long-range order. Employing ab-initio calculations we discuss the observed mechanism of site-selective nucleation of the metal nanoclusters. Finally, we discuss the existence of a wide family oxide templates that can be used for self-assembled growth of nanoclusters governed by the same rules.