Covalent clusters-based materials

We review the properties of covalent clusters-based materials in relation to free cluster properties, namely carbon, silicon and mixed carbon clusters. These properties are understood in terms of quantum size especially the so called rehybridization effect. We show that low energy cluster beam deposition is a powerful technique to prepare unusual bonding. To cite this article: P. Mélinon et al., C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 273–288.