The initial stages of graphite formation on the diamond (1 0 0) 2 × 1 surface

A precursor site which is likely to be involved in the formation of graphite on the diamond (1 0 0) 1 × 2 surfaces has been created by bombardment with low energy Ar ions and characterised by high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the C 1s photoelectron line.