Energetic cluster induced desorption from a graphite surface

Using molecular dynamics computer simulation it has been shown how a large cluster such as fullerene can create an acoustic wave with sufficient energy to gently eject molecules which have been adsorbed to a surface. In a preliminary study we demonstrated how this acoustic wave can be engineered to increase in power by using a larger cluster. It is shown that ejection/ desorption of adsorbate molecules via this technique can result in extremely high ( 100%) fractions of intact particles and result in little or no breakage of remaining molecules or the host material provided the impact energy is kept sufficiently low. Analysis of our simulation results shows that the molecular yield increases logarithmically with energy and highlights the effectiveness of this desorption process. We also demonstrate the desorption of a large intact cluster C300 adsorbed on the surface via a collision of a smaller cluster C60. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.