Directed self-assembly of monodispersed platinum nanoclusters on graphene Moiré template

Abstract

Monodispersed crystalline platinum nanoclusters (NCs) have been grown on a template of graphene Moiré pattern formed on Ru(0001). The Pt NCs are directed to nucleate at a unique site in the Moiré unit cell, and grow in a layer-by-layer mode up to 4-atomic-layer height without coalescence at room temperature. The size of Pt NCs can be controlled by tuning the coverage. This system may find application in the study of Pt nanocatalyst, and the graphene Moiré pattern may be generally applied as template to direct self-assembled growth of metallic or nonmetallic NCs.