▎ 摘　　要

It has recently been demonstrated that pentacene can serve as protection layer for graphene on SiC preserving the unique E(k) band dispersion after exposure to atmosphere and subsequent annealing in vacuum. We confirm the stability of the ideal graphene band dispersion but without any protection layer. We demonstrate this by angle-resolved photoemission for graphene on Ni(111) intercalated by a Au monolayer. Exposure to air does not carbidize or oxidize the Ni substrate or open an apparent gap in the graphene. Its doping state is not affected and the Rashba-type spin-orbit effect on the graphene pi state is preserved. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3565248]