Scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of the initial erosion of graphite by hyperthermal atomic oxygen and neon

S. Matlis, R. Vered, G. D. Lempert, G. Marom, Y. Lifshitz*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Highly ordered pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) was bombarded by low-energy (∼30eV) O+ and Ne+ at fluxes in the range of 1015-1016 ions cm-2. The initial erosion of a few monolayers was studied with the aid of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Damage consisting of hillocks was observed for both O+ and Ne+, and the damage density increased with dose. O+-bombarded surfaces exhibited partial exfoliation of one to two monoatomic layers (propably as a result of chemical erosion), which was absent for Ne+ bombardment. Surface reconstruction of damaged areas was observed. The present work is the first step in an STM study of the effects of atomic oxygen erosion of graphite/epoxy composites in space.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-305
Number of pages5
JournalComposites Science and Technology
Volume48
Issue number1-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993

Keywords

  • ATOX
  • HOPG
  • ion bombardment
  • LEO
  • STM

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