Title: Superfluid helium droplet-mediated surface-deposition of neutral and charged silver atomic species

Authors: Berta Fernández, Marti Pi and María Pilar de Lara-Castells

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CP01303K

Date: 02 Jun 2023. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.

Abstract: Experimental and theoretical work has delivered evidence on the helium nanodroplet-mediated synthesis and soft-landing of metal nanoparticles, nanowires, clusters, and single atoms on solid supports. Recent experimental advances have allowed the formation of charged metal clusters into multiply charged helium nanodroplets. The impact of the charge of immersed metal species in helium nanodroplet-mediated surface deposition is proved by considering silver atoms and cations at zero-temperature graphene as the support. By combining high-level ab initio intermolecular interaction theory with a full quantum description of the superfluid helium nanodroplet motion, evidence is presented that the fundamental mechanism of soft-deposition is preserved inspite of the much stronger interaction of charged species with surfaces, with high-density fluctuations in the helium droplet playing an essential role in braking them. Corroboration is also presented that the soft-landing becomes favored as the helium nanodroplet size increases.