Metal-phthalocyanine array on the moiré pattern of a graphene sheet

Iron-phthalocyanine (FePc) molecules have been adsorbed on a graphene sheet prepared on the Ir(111) surface. The FePc molecules are flatlying on graphene, as determined by near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure, constituting a sub-nanometer thick molecular array at the single-layer coverage. The flat FePc single-layer presents a weak interaction of the organic macrocycle with the graphene surface and Ir subsurface substrate. Further FePc deposition on top of the first flat single-layer determines a threedimensional island growth with varying molecular orientation.