Surface superstructures in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surfaces after Ar+ bombardment

By combining a low dose of Ar+ ion bombardment on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface and scanning tunnelling microscopy, we have been able to study different superstructures formed by the collision cascades of individual ion impacts. These superstructures may coexist; even interfere to give place to a new superstructure. Thus, we report the coexistence of a Moiré pattern with a (√3 × √3)R30° superstructure. Furthermore, the superposition of two (√3 × √3)R30° superstructures forming a honeycomb one, leads us to suggest that the latter may be not a superstructure itself.