Glancing ion incidence on a graphite-supported graphene flake: Lift-off vs welding

Using molecular-dynamics simulation, we study the impact of 0.5 keV Xe ions at glancing incidence (80° from the surface normal) on a graphene flake supported on a (0 0 0 1) graphite substrate. The step forming at the ascending edge of the flake allows the entrance of glancing-incidence ions into a subsurface channel between graphene layers. We find that subsurface-channeled ions have a high probability to lift the flake off the substrate, while non-channeled projectiles rather damage the flake leading eventually to welding the flake to the substrate by the formation of sp3 bonds.