Chemical reactivity of size-selected supported clusters: An experimental setup

We describe an experimental setup for the investigation of the chemical reactivity of size-selected, supported clusters. The clusters are generated by a high frequency laser vaporization source. After mass selection and energy control the clusters are deposited under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions and with low kinetic energy onto thin oxide films grown on metal single crystals. Such films are ideal in their function as supports for size-selected deposited metal clusters. Measured currents of mass-selected niobium cluster ions were of the order of 1 nA and are high enough for fast deposition rates. Adsorbed molecules used on the one hand as probes to characterize the supported clusters and on the other hand for studying chemical reactions on these clusters are investigated in situ by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, temperature desorption spectroscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy. The performance of these analytical tools is illustrated with CO adsorbed on Ni atoms supported on thin MgO(100) films grown on a Mo(100) single crystal.