Effect of binding energy and mass in cluster-induced sputtering of van-der-Waals bonded systems

Furthermore, we study preferential sputter effects in heterogeneous systems. These consist of a random stoichiometric mixture containing equal concentrations of two species. We find that the more weakly bound species is preferentially sputtered. The preferentiality is roughly inversely proportional to the cohesive energy of the pertinent species. We also identify a mass effect on sputtering such that the lighter species is preferentially ejected.