Platinum nanowires and layers obtained by self assembly of Chini clusters deposited on supports

Chini [ Pt 3 ( CO 6 ) ] n 2 - (n = 6) clusters were prepared by γ-irradiation of a Pt(II) salt under CO atmosphere and deposited on HOPG, mica and Au. The deposits were imaged by AFM and STM. A clear support effect was detected on the surface morphology of the few first layers, which are primarily constituted of nanowires formed by a self assembly of Chini clusters. Such a self assembly was not described previously for this system. mean areas between nanowires, where only Pt monolayers are seen, STM imaging on HOPG indicates that the structure of initial Chini clusters has been transformed into a planar structure keeping the triangular units with the same intra-triangular Pt–Pt distance of 2.66 Å.