Energy Retention in Thin Graphite Targets after Energetic Ion Impact

High energy ion irradiation is an important tool for nanoscale modification of materials. In the case of thin targets and 2D materials, which these energetic ions can pierce through, nanoscale modifications such as production of nanopores can open up pathways for new applications. However, materials modifications can be hindered because of subsequent energy release via electron emission. In this work, we follow energy dissipation after the impact of an energetic ion in thin graphite target using Geant4 code. Presented results show that significant amount of energy can be released from the target. Especially for thin targets and highest ion energies, almost 40% of deposited energy has been released. Therefore, retention of deposited energy can be significantly altered and this can profoundly affect ion track formation in thin targets. This finding could also have broader implications for radiation hardness of other nanomaterials such as nanowires and nanoparticles.

Automated summary

High energy ion irradiation is crucial for nanoscale material modification, but subsequent energy release from electron emission can hinder the process. This study used Geant4 code to track energy dissipation in thin graphite targets after ion impact, revealing a significant release of energy. Understanding this phenomenon is important for ion track formation in thin targets.