Interplay of ballistic and chemical effects in the formation of structural defects for Sn and Pb implanted silica

► Pb and Sn are deposited into silica using pulsed ion beam implantation. ► X-ray spectroscopy reveals Pb clustering and SnO coordination. ► Density functional theory and ion implantation simulations are used for analysis. ► Ballistic and chemical processes govern final products after implantation.