Templated Growth and Intercalation Pathways of Nickel Nanoclusters on Graphene/Ir(111)

Key Points

• The study aims to examine the growth and intercalation mechanisms of nickel nanoclusters on graphene/Ir(111).
• Utilized scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) for observation
• Conducted experiments under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions
• Analyzed grow patterns at room temperature (RT)
• Identified distinct growth patterns of nickel nanoclusters on the moiré superlattice
• Observed variations in intercalation dynamics depending on environmental conditions
• Demonstrated the influence of substrate structure on nanocluster formation