Nano-Assemblies using Designer Clusters

It is shown that a new procedure that combines studies on clusters in gas phase, theoretical investigation of the stability patterns, and the directed assembly in solutions can enable synthesis of nano-assemblies where the building blocks are designer clusters identified in gas phase. As a demonstration of its viability, we first examine As$_{7}$K$_{3}$ as a potential building block through gas phase molecular beam experiments starting from a dispersed mixture of bulk arsenic and potassium. Combining the experimental results with first principles electronic structure calculations, we identify As$_{7}$K$_{3}$ species as a uniquely stable Zintl entity that could affect self-assembly. Through directed assembly, we report success in synthesizing and characterizing a lattice of analogous super-cluster assembled material crystallized from the liquid phase. Electronic structure calculations on the nanoassembled material indicate that it is a wide band gap semiconductor.