Atomic Structure and Crystalline Order of Graphene-Supported Ir Nanoparticle Lattices

We present the atomic structure of Ir nanoparticles with 1.5 nm diameter at half height and three layers average height grown on graphene/Ir(111). Using surface x-ray diffraction, we demonstrate that Ir nanoparticles on graphene/Ir(111) form a crystallographic superlattice with high perfection. The superlattice arrangement allows us to obtain detailed information on the atomic structure of the nanoparticles themselves, such as size, shape, internal layer stacking and strain. Our experiments disclose that the nanoparticles reside epitaxially on top of the graphene moire structure on Ir(111), resulting in significant lateral compressive intraparticle strain. Normal incidence x-ray standing wave experiments deliver additional information on the particle formation induced restructuring of the graphene layer. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.065503