On the highly charged ion transmission spectroscopy applied to 2D materials

Abstract

The interaction of ions with solid materials may lead to charge exchange. Previous results show that charge exchange is confined to the uppermost surface layers of a solid or to the thickness of a freestanding 2D material, even when initially highly charged ions are used. Several processes are active during charge exchange and a clear distance or impact parameter dependence is observed. Here I show, that highly charged ion transmission can be used to determine the material structure of 2D materials especially when atomically resolved electron microscopy cannot be applied. The method is based on measurement of energy-, charge-, and angle-resolved ion transmission spectra in coincidence and a comparison with a local model for a time-dependent change in the projectile’s electron occupation and consequently the scattering potential. Also necessary experimental procedures are discussed.