Effects of Ar-ion implantation on the surface structure of pyrolytic graphite Original Research Article

Effects of Ar-ion implantation on the surface structure of a pyrolytic graphite (PG) have been investigated by means of the laser Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The implantation was conducted to both the basal and edge surfaces, whereby the carbon lattice was destroyed so as to form an amorphous structure at the fluence level of 2.3 × 1016 ions cm−2. A new asymmetric Raman band was produced around 1200–1300 cm−1 for the edge surface at 1.0 × 1017 ions cm−2. The atomic ratio of XPS OC of the edge surface was not appreciably changed by the bombardment between 1.0 × 1014 and 1.0 × 1015 ions m−2. The outermost structure of the edge surface seems to be less damaged at these fluence levels than that of the basal surface.