  We describe the reversible intercalation of Na under graphene on Ir(111) by
photo-dissociation of a previously adsorbed NaCl overlayer. After room
temperature evaporation, NaCl adsorbs on top of graphene forming a bilayer.
With a combination of electron diffraction and photoemission techniques we
demonstrate that the NaCl overlayer dissociates upon a short exposure to an
X-ray beam. As a result, chlorine desorbs while sodium intercalates under the
graphene, inducing an electronic decoupling from the underlying metal. Low
energy electron diffraction shows the disappearance of the moir\'e pattern when
Na intercalates between graphene and iridium. Analysis of the Na 2p core-level
by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows a chemical change from NaCl to
metallic buried Na at the graphene/Ir interface. The intercalation-decoupling
process leads to a n-doped graphene due to the charge transfer from the Na, as
revealed by constant energy angle resolved X-ray photoemission maps. Moreover,
the process is reversible by a mild annealing of the samples without damaging
the graphene.
