High-resolution electron microscopy of metallic clusters on a zeolite surface

Pt clusters, which were deposited on K-LTL zeolite surfaces by magnetron sputtering, were studied using high-resolution electron microscopy. The Pt clusters with a definite size were observed to be placed at special crystallographic positions (either at channel openings or on “incomplete channels”) of K-LTL surfaces, and the clusters migrate and grow as the K-LTL crystal lattice is destroyed by electron irradiation. This result shows that the zeolite surface keeps a definite size and regular arrangement of the Pt clusters.