SIZE-DEPENDENT FIELD-EMISSION SPECTRA FROM NANOMETER-SIZE SUPPORTED GOLD CLUSTERS

The energy spectra of electrons field emitted from individual, supported Au clusters have been measured as a function of cluster size. Data are presented for clusters with nominal diameters in the range 1.3-3.2 nm. For the smallest clusters, the energy of the field-emitted electrons lies below the Fermi level of the substrate and fine structure in the energy distribution is observed. As the cluster size increases, the energy distribution shifts toward the Fermi level of the substrate and the fine structure disappears.