Microaggregates of non-noble metals and bimetallic alloys prepared by radiation-induced reduction

The successful preparation of very small metallic microaggregates by radiation-induced reduction of metallic ions has only been reported for noble metals. The authors describe the extension of the method, both to non-noble metals such as Co, Ni, Zn or Pb, where the strong reactivity of the separate metal atoms and native clusters must be overcome, and to bimetallic particles (such as Cu3 up and down Pd) which exhibit perfectly ordered structures. Both kinds of aggregates have many potential applications, the foremost being in catalysis. (author)