De dynamica van clustergroei en het verhogen van de flux van een clusterbron die magnetron sputtering combineert met gasaggregatie

This thesis advances the physical synthesis of catalysts for CO₂ conversion using cluster beam deposition via a magnetron sputtering gas aggregation source. By redesigning the magnetron's magnetic field to a Central Strong configuration and systematically studying the effects of temperature, sputtering power, and aggregation length, the work uncovers key mechanisms that enhance nucleation, cluster growth, and overall yield. These improvements enable the scalable production of size-controlled, well-defined clusters. Catalytic tests on Pd/ZnO and Cu-Ag systems reveal strong support-cluster interactions that govern selectivity in CO₂ hydrogenation and electrochemical reduction. The findings establish a foundation for designing next-generation cluster-based catalysts for sustainable CO₂ utilisation.