Metal clusters mimic chemical properties of atoms
A portal to another periodic table of sorts, this one populated by metal cluster "superatoms" that mimic the atoms of the original table. Latest superatom, an Al7- cluster, behaves like a single multivalent germanium atom. The compounds make from the Al7- cluster include Al7C- and Al7O-.
The scientists say that if someone can find ways of making large supplies of such superatoms, instead of the minuscule amounts in their gas-phase experiments, it might become possible to develop a
superatom-based chemistry for creating new categories of catalysts, semiconductors, and other materials.
Scientists are now pushing to discover more superatoms using magnesium, gold, boron, and other elements.
(Chemical & Engineering News, 2006)