Materials produced by assembling gas-phase nanoclusters

Depositing, on surfaces, gas-phase nanoclusters, whose properties can be widely varied, enables the production of films with designed properties. The films can be nanoporous or granular, if co-deposited with an atomic vapour, allowing independent control over the size and volume fraction of the grains. Using patterned substrates produces arrays of quantum dots whose properties are pre-determined. This article reviews the recent work on materials made by cluster deposition.