Nucleation and growth of nickel nanoclusters on graphene Moiré on Rh(111)

Abstract

Regularly sized Ni nanoclusters (NCs) have been grown on a graphene Moiré on Rh(111). Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we determine that initial growth of Ni at 150 K leads to preferential nucleation of monodispersed NCs at specific sites of the Moiré superstructure. However, a defined long-range ordering of NCs with increasing coverage is not observed. Room temperature Ni deposition leads to the formation of flat triangular-shaped islands which are well-matched to the Moiré registry.