Particle beams nanostructures

Iron carbonyls have been also used to fabricate nanostructures of potential use in catalysis. In this context, the preparation at room temperature of nano-sized a-Fe single crystals over carbon micro-grid films has been reported. The particles were prepared by electron beam induced deposition using Fe(CO)s as precursor [77]. The use of a focused electron beam to induce metal deposition from carbonyl compounds opens a new route for the preparation of nano-sized metal particles. 

A solid precursor is vaporized with the help of a beam of inert gas ion, via sputtering. The particles formed are then deposited as nanostructure films on silicon substrate. The process must be carried out at relatively low pressure ( 1 m Torr), which leads to the formation of aerosol for the formation of particles. 

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