Figure 2.

Structural evolution of nanoislands as predicted by molecular dynamics simulations. Simulated evaporation of 1.5 nm of gold onto graphene on copper (a). Plot of the change of the total surface area of gold nanoislands during 20 ns of vacuum annealing at 500 K. Merging of nanoislands is preceded by crystallographic alignment and necking (surface area increase) (Supporting Information Video S1) (b). Scanning electron micrograph of 1 nm of gold evaporated onto graphene on copper (c). Scale bar: 50 nm.