The evolution of hydrogen from proton irradiated glassy carbon

Glassy carbon was irradiated with 15 keV H⁺ ion beam. It was observed that the implanted hydrogen is unstable in material and evolves as H, H₂ and H₂O. Post-irradiation evolution of H, H₂ and H₂O from proton irradiated glassy carbon was monitored by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) in the period of 30 days. In between irradiation and TPD measurements the irradiated samples were stored in air. The evolution of the molecular hydrogen, although the protons are implanted deeply below the surface of the disordered glassy carbon, proceeds over the same mechanism as in the case of low-energy H-atoms chemisorbed on the very surface of an ideal graphite structure.