Hyperthermal atomic oxygen beam-induced etching of HOPG (0001) studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy

Hiroshi Kinoshita, Masataka Umeno, Masahito Tagawa, Nobuo Ohmae

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    63 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The basal planes of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces were exposed to atomic oxygen (AO) beam with a translational energy of approximately 5 eV at room temperature. The characterization of the surfaces was carried out using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The XPS spectra of the hyperthermal AO-exposed surfaces indicated that the oxygen coverage reached the saturated value of 0.94 with the AO fluence of approximately 4 × 1017 atoms cm-2. The initial reaction site of the AO on the defect-free HOPG (0001) surface was observed as a protrusion in the STM images. In contrast, a hillock-like structure was formed at the AO-exposed HOPG (0001) surfaces at high AO fluences. The density of protrusions, observed in the initial AO/HOPG reaction, increased in proportion to the AO fluence. The reaction yield of hyperthermal AO with the defect-free HOPG (0001) surface was estimated to be 1.0 × 10-3. This value is two orders lower than that determined in the flight experiment aboard the space shuttle where the same chemical reaction was expected. The discrepancy was explained by the high reaction yield of the oxygen-covered prism planes of HOPG presented at the hillock surfaces.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)49-59
    Number of pages11
    JournalSurface Science
    Volume440
    Issue number1-2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 1 1999

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Condensed Matter Physics
    • Surfaces and Interfaces
    • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
    • Materials Chemistry

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Hyperthermal atomic oxygen beam-induced etching of HOPG (0001) studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this