Growth of chromium on the structured surface of Al O rNiAl 100/

The properties of chromium clusters on a thin nanostructured Al2O3 surface have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy STM.and spectroscopy STS.. Oxidation of NiAl 001.leads to the formation of thin ordered Al2O3 stripes. Upon chromium evaporation small clusters with a mean size of ;3 nm are preferentially formed on top of the oxide stripes. The STS measurements indicate a metallic behavior of these chromium clusters. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.