Subsurface molecule formation in hydrogen-implanted graphite

Abstract

A saturated bilayer of hydrogen isotopes has been formed in graphite by implanting protons and deuterons at different energies. Residual gas analysis during thermal desorption strongly suggests that hydrogen atoms recombine locally in the bulk of the damaged material and diffuse to the surface in molecular form. This model of local recombination and molecular diffusion is consistent with the predictions of the local saturation model. It also explains recent data of the low-energy chemical erosion during hydrogen bombardment at room temperature.