Water formation in graphite and boron-doped graphite under simultaneous O+ and H+ irradiation

When graphite is exposed to simultaneous irradiation by H+ and O+, in addition to the H+-induced hydrocarbon and O+-induced CO and CO2 formation, water is also formed. The present investigation explores the effect of the presence of boron in graphite on water formation. The results show that B-doped graphite specimens (∼15 at.% B) exposed to simultaneous O+ and H+ irradiation produce less water when compared to pure graphite under similar irradiation. The concept of the formation of ‘water-precursors’ at the end of the O+ range is proposed to explain the observed effect.