Delayed emission of electrons from C60 following energetic impact against graphite

The yield of C ₆₀ ⁺ ions reflected from the surface of graphite is found to be a bimodal function of the energy of impact. Below 140 eV (6 km/s), the yield decreases with energy and the scattering time-of-flight peak is sharp. Above 170 eV, the yield increases, but the peak is broad and asymmetric, corresponding to delayed electron emission from an impact-heated, neutralized cluster. There is also evidence for fragmentation to C₅₈ and C₅₆. The emission process may be analogous to that reported for scattered C ₆₀ ^? . Application of statistical rate theory to either observation (C ₆₀ ^± ) gives an estimated 25–30 percent transfer of impact energy into cluster internal modes. The decreasing yield at highest energies (>400 eV) may result from adhesion processes (C₆₀-surface bonding) that could also account for the absence of delayed electron emission in C₆₀-silicon collisions.