Intercalation of nickel atoms under two-dimensional graphene film on (111)Ir Original Research Article

Intercalation of Ni atoms under a two-dimensional graphene film (2DGF) on (111)Ir was studied in ultra high vacuum using high resolution Auger spectroscopy. Ni atoms were shown to be intercalated effectively at 900 to 1500 K, and a polylayer nickel film was shown to grow under the 2DGF. A relationship between a proportion κ of Ni atoms intercalated under 2DGF and temperature was determined and it was shown that κ decreases from ∼30% at 900 K to ∼3% at 1500 K.