- Dehn, MH;
- Arseneau, DJ;
- Böni, P;
- Bridges, MD;
- Buck, T;
- Cortie, DL;
- Fleming, DG;
- Kelly, JA;
- MacFarlane, WA;
- MacLachlan, MJ;
- McFadden, RML;
- Morris, GD;
- Wang, P-X;
- Xiao, J;
- Zamarion, VM;
- Kiefl, RF
Chemisorption of muonium onto the surface of gold nanoparticles has been observed. Muonium (μ+e-), a light hydrogen-like atom, reacts chemically with uncapped 7 nm gold nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous silica (SBA-15) with a strong temperature-dependent rate. The addition rate is fast enough to allow coherent spin transfer into a diamagnetic muon state on the nanoparticle surface. The muon is well established as a sensitive probe of static or slowly fluctuating magnetic fields in bulk matter. These results represent the first muon spin rotation signal on a nanoparticle surface or any metallic surface. Only weak magnetic effects are seen on the surface of these Au nanoparticles consistent with Pauli paramagnetism.