Two Dimensional Ir-Cluster Lattices on Moir\'e of Graphene with Ir(111)

TL;DR

This paper reports the growth of highly ordered, thermally stable Ir cluster lattices on graphene moiré patterns, with tunable sizes and a proposed binding model suggesting potential for other materials.

Contribution

It introduces a method to grow and analyze ordered Ir cluster lattices on graphene moiré, including a binding model based on STM and DFT.

Findings

Clusters are highly ordered and stable below 500K.

Cluster size can be tuned from 4 to 130 atoms.

A binding mechanism model suggests similar lattices could be grown with other materials.

Abstract

Lattices of Ir clusters have been grown by vapor phase deposition on graphene moir\'{e}s on Ir(111). The clusters are highly ordered, spatially and thermally stable below 500K. Their narrow size distribution is tunable from 4 to about 130 atoms. A model for cluster binding to the graphene is presented based on scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory. The proposed binding mechanism suggests that similar cluster lattices might be grown of materials other than Ir.