# Intercalation of O$_2$ and N$_2$ in the Graphene/Ni Interfaces of Different Morphology

## TL;DR

This study investigates how oxygen and nitrogen gases intercalate beneath graphene on Ni/Ir(111) surfaces, revealing that only oxygen successfully intercalates across various conditions, highlighting the importance of bonding strength and dissociation mechanisms.

## Contribution

The paper provides detailed experimental insights into the intercalation behavior of O$_2$ and N$_2$ in graphene/Ni interfaces across different morphologies, emphasizing the selective intercalation of oxygen.

## Key findings

- Only oxygen intercalates under graphene in all tested conditions.
- Intercalation depends on bonding strength and dissociation potential.
- Gas intercalation varies with surface morphology and pre-intercalated Ni amount.

## Abstract

Near-ambient pressure XPS and STM experiments are performed to study the intercalation of oxygen and nitrogen at different partial gas pressures and different temperatures in the graphene/Ni/Ir(111) system of different morphologies. We performed detailed experiments on the investigation of the chemical state and topography of graphene, before and after gas intercalation, depending on the amount of pre-intercalated Ni in graphene/Ir(111). It is found that only oxygen can be intercalated under graphene in all considered cases, indicating the role of the intra-molecular bonding strength and possibility of gas molecules dissociation on different metallic surfaces on the principal possibility and on the mechanism of intercalation of different species under graphene.