Thin films of nanomaterials made using intense cluster beams

Thin films of material containing embedded nanocrystals in the size range from 1.5 to 6 nm have been manufactured using intense cluster beams. A description of the equipment is given, as well as its measured performance. Measurements of the morphology of the material have been made directly using transmission electron microscopy and, indirectly, with SQUID magnetometry. These measurements are consistent with the hypothesis that the material consists of approximately spherical nanocrystals embedded in a matrix. X-ray diffraction measurements have established that the grain size of the matrix material is reduced considerably in these materials.