A surface reaction with atoms: Hydrogenation of sp- and sp2-hybridized carbon by thermal H(D) atoms

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Abstract
Hydrogen containing carbon (C:H) films have been prepared by ion beam deposition of 160 eV ethane ions on a carrier consisting of a Pt(111) single crystal surface covered with a monolayer of graphite. Several monolayers thick films deposited at 350 K contain hydrogen bound to sp, sp2, and sp3 hybridized carbon. Vibrational spectroscopy reveals that thermal D(H) atoms directed to the C:H film surface hydrogenate unsaturated CH groups at the surface and transform sp and sp2 hybridized carbon to sp3. The observed reaction mechanism explains the microscopic processes in chemical erosion of graphite by hydrogen atoms which is a crucial reaction step in the low pressure synthesis of diamondlike carbon.