Ruthenium Atoms Research Articles

Binding modes of a flexible ruthenium polypyridyl complex to DNA.

Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes are attractive binders to DNA. Modifying the hydrophobicity, shape, or size of the ancillary ligands around the central ruthenium atom can induce changes in the binding mode to the DNA double helix. In this paper, we investigate the binding modes of [Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)2 (5-{4-[(pyren-1-yl)methyl]-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl}-1,10-phenanthroline)]2+ (RuPy for short), a metal complex featuring a flexible pyrene moiety known for its intercalative properties. Classical molecular dynamics simulations are employed to gain insight into the non-covalent binding interactions of RuPy with two different 20 base pair DNA sequences, poly(dA)poly(dT) (AT) and poly(dC)poly(dG) (CG). In addition to examining the intercalation of the pyrene moiety from the major groove, the stability of RuPy-DNA adducts is investigated when the metal complex interacts externally with the DNA and with the major and minor groove pockets. The results indicate that external interaction and major groove binding are not stable, whereas intercalation consistently forms stable adducts. Minor groove binding showed less stability than intercalation and more variability, with some trajectories transitioning to intercalation, involving either the pyrene moiety or a bipyridine ligand. Pyrene intercalation, especially from the minor groove, was the most stable, while bipyridine intercalation was less favorable and associated with higher binding free energies.

Preparation of a ruthenium complex covalently bonded to multilayer graphene and its evaluation as a photocatalyst.

Multilayer graphene (MLG), obtained by mild sonication of graphite in NMP, was functionalised via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with azomethine ylides generated by thermal 1,2-prototropy from various imino esters. The microwave-assisted functionalisation took place in five hours at 100 °C. The resulting MLG, containing substituted proline-based amine functional groups, was characterized using XPS and showed a nitrogen loading three times that obtained for the same transformation performed for five days using convection-assisted heating. The preparation of the imino ester containing a bipyridine unit at the arylidene position allowed for the preparation of the corresponding functionalised MLG, which incorporated the ruthenium atom to achieve a heterogeneous MLG-Ru complex. This supported complex was tested, as a proof of concept, as a photocatalyst of the aerobic oxidative hydroxylation of 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid.

Multi-interface anchoring enables atomic-level dispersion of Ru for efficient water oxidation

Although noble metal-based catalysts are expensive, they are still the most promising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the load of the precious metal without affecting the OER performance of the catalyst. In this work, we have innovatively proposed a strategy of interfacial anchoring of Ru atoms and successfully achieve the dispersion of precious metal ruthenium atoms in cross-growing NiS and NiSe multifaceted structures. The dispersion of Ru ensures Ru–NiS/NiSe/NF more active sites and more adequate contact with the electrolyte, which further improves the oxygen production property of the catalyst. As a direct outcome, the target catalyst (Ru–NiS/NiSe/NF) only requires low overpotential of 453 mV to excite a current density of 1000 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, it can remain stable to catalyze the OER for more than 50 h (200 mA cm−2), which gives it great application potential in future large-scale electrolytic water processes. This work provides a new perspective for the efficient utilization of precious metal for designing the efficient and stable OER electrocatalyst.

Surface Activation by Single Ru Atoms for Enhanced High-Temperature CO2 Electrolysis.

Cathodic CO2 adsorption and activation is essential for high-temperature CO2 electrolysis in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). However, the component of oxygen ionic conductor in the cathode displays limited electrocatalytic activity. Herein, stable single Ruthenium (Ru) atoms are anchored on the surface of oxygen ionic conductor (Ce0.8 Sm0.2 O2-δ , SDC) via the strong covalent metal-support interaction, which evidently modifies the electronic structure of SDC surface for favorable oxygen vacancy formation and enhanced CO2 adsorption and activation, finally evoking the electrocatalytic activity of SDC for high-temperature CO2 electrolysis. Experimentally, SOEC with the Ru1 /SDC-La0.6 Sr0.4 Co0.2 Fe0.8 O3-δ cathode exhibits a current density as high as 2.39 A cm-2 at 1.6 V and 800 °C. This work expands the application of single atom catalyst to the high-temperature electrocatalytic reaction in SOEC and provides an efficient strategy to tailor the electronic structure and electrocatalytic activity of SOEC cathode at the atomic scale.

Surface Activation by Single Ru Atoms for Enhanced High‐Temperature CO2 Electrolysis

AbstractCathodic CO2 adsorption and activation is essential for high‐temperature CO2 electrolysis in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). However, the component of oxygen ionic conductor in the cathode displays limited electrocatalytic activity. Herein, stable single Ruthenium (Ru) atoms are anchored on the surface of oxygen ionic conductor (Ce0.8Sm0.2O2‐δ, SDC) via the strong covalent metal‐support interaction, which evidently modifies the electronic structure of SDC surface for favorable oxygen vacancy formation and enhanced CO2 adsorption and activation, finally evoking the electrocatalytic activity of SDC for high‐temperature CO2 electrolysis. Experimentally, SOEC with the Ru1/SDC‐La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3‐δ cathode exhibits a current density as high as 2.39 A cm−2 at 1.6 V and 800 °C. This work expands the application of single atom catalyst to the high‐temperature electrocatalytic reaction in SOEC and provides an efficient strategy to tailor the electronic structure and electrocatalytic activity of SOEC cathode at the atomic scale.

Stabilizing ruthenium dioxide with cation-anchored sulfate for durable oxygen evolution in proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers

Ruthenium dioxide is the most promising alternative to the prevailing but expensive iridium-based catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers. However, the under-coordinated lattice oxygen of ruthenium dioxide is prone to over-oxidation, and oxygen vacancies are formed at high oxidation potentials under acidic corrosive conditions. Consequently, ruthenium atoms adjacent to oxygen vacancies are oxidized into soluble high-valence derivatives, causing the collapse of the ruthenium dioxide crystal structure and leading to its poor stability. Here, we report an oxyanion protection strategy to prevent the formation of oxygen vacancies on the ruthenium dioxide surface by forming coordination-saturated lattice oxygen. Combining density functional theory calculations, electrochemical measurements, and a suite of operando spectroscopies, we showcase that barium-anchored sulfate can greatly impede ruthenium loss and extend the lifetime of ruthenium-based catalysts during acidic oxygen evolution, while maintaining the activity. This work paves a new way for designing stable and active anode catalysts toward acidic water splitting.

A theoretical study of the effect of phosphorus and nitrogen heteroatoms on pentahapto coordination of diazaphospholyl ligands in binuclear ruthenium and iron carbonyl derivatives

The structures and energies of the (Me2C2N2P)2Ru2(CO)n (n = 4, 3) complexes of the four isomeric diazaphospholyl ligands have been studied by density functional theory. Most of the low-energy structures in these systems have one or both diazaphospholyl rings bridging a central RuRu bond through RuN and/or RuP bonds without involvement of the other three ring atoms. A few higher energy structures are found in these systems having either terminal pentahapto η5-Me2C2N2P ligands or bridging η5,η1-Me2C2N2P ligands bonded to one ruthenium atom as a pentahapto ligand and to the other ruthenium atom through a P → Ru or N → Ru dative bond. The potential surfaces of the analogous iron systems (Me2C2N2P)2Fe2(CO)n (n = 4, 3) are complicated considerably by other triplet and even quintet structures of comparable energies to structures analogous to the low-energy ruthenium structures. This relates to the lower ligand field strengths of iron complexes as compared with their ruthenium analogues.

Intermetallic compounds RE10RuAl3 (RE = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm): Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal properties

In the RE-Ru-Al systems, in the region with high content of rare earth elements a number of isostructural compounds RE10RuAl3 (RE = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) were identified. The structures of the obtained compounds belong to ordered variant of anti-Co2Al5-type with a hexagonal cell, space group P63/mmc (No. 194), Pearson symbol hP28, Z = 2, the cell parameters a = 9.5901(19) Å, c = 9.6504(17) Å (Gd); a = 9.5029(17) Å, c = 9.5746(20) Å (Tb); a = 9.4761(17) Å, c = 9.5544(13) Å (Dy); a = 9.4235(9) Å, c = 9.5132(7) Å (Ho); a = 9.3967(6) Å, c = 9.4761(5) Å (Er); a = 9.3589(12) Å, c = 9.4277(10) Å (Tm). All compounds were synthesized by arc-melting the stoichiometric quantities of elementary components. The structures were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis of a single crystal and refined by the Rietveld method from powder X-ray diffraction patterns. In the structure of the compound Ho10RuAl3 one of the three holmium sites - Ho3 - was mixed with Al, which is reflected in the composition of the intermetallide: compound with Ho shows a small deviation from composition RE10RuAl3 and an adequate formula of the compound is Ho10‒xRuAl3+x (x = 0.07). The crystal structure of the compounds can be represented as rows of trigonal prisms with rare earth atoms at the vertices, centered by ruthenium atoms, alternating with a pair of empty octahedra of rare earth atoms along the direction c of the unit cell. Rows of prisms and octahedrons separate distorted icosahedrons RE[Al6RE6] with a rare earth atom in the center, connected by common triangular faces. All obtained compounds have a congruent melting pattern.

Impact of alloying iron pyrite by ruthenium on its band gap values and its insight to photovoltaic performance

In pursuit of augmenting the band gap value of thin films composed of FeS2 Pyrite, our study encompasses both theoretical and experimental investigations. Specifically, we sought to delve into the electronic and optical properties of FeS2 alloyed with ruthenium, denoted as Fe1−xRuxS2, where x varied across a range of values (x = 0.3966, 0.1586, 0.0496, 0.0347, 0.0106, and 0.00). Our theoretical analysis employed the Linear Muffin-Tin Orbital technique within the Atomic-Sphere approximation (LMTO-ASA) framework, focusing on the density of states. In parallel, our experimental samples were fabricated via a cost-effective and straightforward method involving the sulfuration of amorphous iron oxide thin films, which were deposited through spray pyrolysis of an aqueous solution containing FeCl3.6H2O onto heated glass substrates at 400 °C. This comprehensive investigation sheds light on the influence of alloying on the atomic structure and the optical characteristics of RuxFe1−xS2 samples. Utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical characterizations, we observed a notable widening of the band gap of FeS2, ranging from 0.90508 to 1.38 eV, when approximately 1.06% of the Fe atoms were replaced with ruthenium atoms (x = 0.0106 concentration of Ru). This finding holds significant implications for the potential applications of our samples in photovoltaic technologies.

Cementite-type Y3Ru

Abstract Single crystals of Y3Ru were obtained as a side product during phase analytical studies of yttrium-rich compounds in the system Y–Ru–Zn. The structure of Y3Ru was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Fe3C type, Pnma, a = 732.51(7), b = 925.61(8), c = 633.66(10) pm, wR = 0.0639, 811 F 2 values, 23 variables. The ruthenium atoms have coordination number 9 in form of a strongly distorted tricapped trigonal yttrium prism with Ru–Y distances ranging from 275–391 pm. The second substructure concerns empty Y6 octahedra (d(Y–Y) = 344–396 pm). Electronic structure calculations show a net charge transfer from yttrium to ruthenium and underpin the essentially covalent Y–Ru bonding. A phase-pure sample of Y3Ru was synthesized from the elements by arc-melting. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility studies of this sample reveal Pauli paramagnetism (3.6(1) × 10−5 emu mol−1 at T = 300 K).

Diborane and Triborane Species in the Coordination Sphere of Group-8 Transition Metals.

The synthesis and structural elucidation of a series of ruthenium diborane and triborane compounds are described. Treatment of [Cp*Ru(PPh3)2Cl] (1) (Cp* = 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; PPh3 = triphenylphosphine) with [BH3·THF] (THF = tetrahydrofuran) at 60 °C led to the formation of the hydrogen-rich ruthena-octahydrotetraborane arachno-[2-{Cp*Ru(PPh3)B3H8}] (2). The chemistry of 2 is explored with [Fe2(CO)9] at room temperature, which resulted in the formation of a metal-stabilized triborane species, [{Cp*Ru(PPh3)}(μ3-η1:η2:η2-B3H6){Fe2(CO)7}] (3). Compound 3 can be considered as a triborane analogue [B3H6]3- that stabilizes in the coordination sphere of two iron and one ruthenium atoms. Further, the photolysis of nido-[1,2-(Cp*Ru)2(μ-H)2(B3H7)] (4) with [M(CO)5·THF] (M = Mo and W) afforded an arachno-[1,2-(Cp*Ru)(Cp*RuCO)(μ-H)(B3H8)] (5), in which the [M(CO)5·THF] acted as a CO source. In an attempt to convert arachno-5 into a closo or nido species, we have pyrolyzed arachno-5 in toluene at 90 °C for 20 h that afforded nido-[2,3-(Cp*Ru)2(μ-CO)(μ3-H)(B3H6)] (6) having two ruthenium atoms at the basal position. Irradiation of arachno-5 with an intermediate generated from CS2 and [LiBH4·THF] in THF afforded the diborane(5) species [(Cp*RuCO)(Cp*Ru)(μ-H)(μ-η1:η2-B2H4)(CS2H)] (7) in which a dithioformato ligand (SHC═S) is attached to one Ru-B bond. Compound 7 can be considered as a diborane(5) species, which is stabilized by a dithioformato ligand. All the synthesized compounds have been characterized by employing electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, multinuclear NMR, and IR spectroscopy techniques. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of compounds 2, 3, 6, and 7 helped to establish the structural integrity of these compounds. Further, density functional theory studies were performed to provide insight into the bonding of these metal-stabilized diborane and triborane species.

Green synthesis of ammonia from steam and air using solid oxide electrolysis cells composed of ruthenium‐modified perovskite catalyst

AbstractThe green electrochemical synthesis of ammonia (NH3) through solid electrolysis has been intensively investigated. This research reported an improvement of NH3 production rate using in situ exsolution of ruthenium (Ru) atoms into lanthanum strontium chromium ferrite perovskite (LaxSr1−xCryFe1−yO3−δ) catalyst. The in situ Ru exsolution was achieved by reducing the optimized stoichiometric La0.33Sr0.67Cr0.33Fe0.52Ru0.15O3−δ (LSCrFRu) powders obtained in 10‐vol% H2/Ar at 800°C for 1.0 h. These Ru nanoparticles (NPs) were embedded on the surface of the LSCrFRu matrix, evenly distributed with a size varying from 4.4 ± 0.5 nm. With the exsolution of Ru atoms, greater oxygen vacancies were formed in ex‐LSCrFRu and gadolinium‐doped ceria (GDC) composite than those in LSCrF‐GDC electrocatalyst, beneficial to N2 gas adsorption and triple bond cleavage. These Ru‐modified LSCrFRu‐GDC catalysts showed a synthesis rate of 4.73 × 10−10 mol s−1 cm−2 at 550°C under 1.6 V, doubling the rate using LSCrF‐GDC catalyst. The improved ammonia synthesis kinetic is mainly attributed to embedded Ru NPs and the increased oxygen vacancies formed during the in situ exsolution process. More active sites and higher activity for H2O and N2 adsorption and activation collectively advanced facile transportation of O2− that further promotes the cleavage of covalent bonds in H2O, providing more H+ for the hydrogenation in the nitrogen reduction reaction. This research will open a new paradigm for the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia with mitigating the drawbacks of traditional NH3 production.

Chemistry of CS2 and CS3 Bridged Decaborane Analogues: Regular Coordination Versus Cluster Expansion.

In an effort to synthesize metallaheteroborane clusters of higher nuclearity, the reactivity of metallaheteroboranes, nido-[(Cp*M)2B6S2H4(CS3)] (Cp* = C5Me5) (1: M = Co; 2: M = Rh) with various metal carbonyls have been investigated. Photolysis of nido-1 and nido-2 with group 6 metal carbonyls, M'(CO)5.THF (M' = Mo or W) were performed that led to the formation of a series of adducts [(Cp*M)2B6S2H4(CS3){M'(CO)5}] (3: M = Co, M' = Mo; 4: M = Co, M' = W; 5: M = Rh, M' = Mo; 6: M = Rh, M' = W) instead of cluster expansion reactions. In these adducts, the S atom of C=S group of di(thioboralane)thione {B2CS3} moiety is coordinated to M'(CO)5 (M = Mo or W) in η1-fashion. On the other hand, thermolysis of nido-1 with Ru3(CO)12 yielded one fused metallaheteroborane cluster [{Ru(CO)3}3S{Ru(CO)}{Ru(CO)2}Co2B6SH4(CH2S2){Ru(CO)3}2S], 7. This 20-vertex-fused cluster is composed of two tetrahedral {Ru3S} and {Ru2B2}, a flat butterfly {Ru3S} and one octadecahedron {Co2RuB7S} core with one missing vertex, coordinated to {Ru2SCH2S2} through two boron and one ruthenium atom. On the other hand, the room temperature reaction of nido-2 with Co2(CO)8 produced one 19-vertex fused metallaheteroborane cluster [(Cp*Rh)2B6H4S4{Co(CO)}2{Co(CO)2}2(μ-CO)S{Co(CO)3}2], 8. Cluster 8 contains one nido-decaborane {Rh2B6S2}, one butterfly {Co2S2} and one bicapped square pyramidal {Co6S} unit that exhibits an intercluster fusion with two sulfur atoms in common. Clusters 3-6 have been characterized by multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and structurally determined by XRD analyses. Furthermore, the DFT calculations have been carried out to gain insight into electronic, structural and bonding patterns of the synthesized clusters.

Regulating charge distribution of Ru atoms in ruthenium phosphide/carbon nitride/carbon for promoting hydrogen evolution reaction

Achieving highly efficient and durable electrocatalysts is a major challenge for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in full-pH-range. Modulating charge distribution of active sites in electrocatalyst is a valid strategy to attain highly efficient HER electrocatalysts. Herein, ruthenium phosphide/carbon nitride/carbon (RuP/CN/C) is successfully synthesized, in which the charges of ruthenium and nitrogen atoms are strongly redistributed. The N atom with higher electronegativity attracts electrons from active Ru atom to optimize the H* absorption behaviors on active sites surface, consequently accelerating the HER kinetics. Compared with the RuP/C, the resultant RuP/CN/C delivers low overpotential of 30.0 mV, 60.0 mV, and 30.0 mV to derive the 10 mA·cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, 1.0 M PBS and 0.5 M H2SO4, respectively, as well as shows a remarkable stability. Furthermore, the RuP/CN/C Ⅱ RuO2 affords a low cell voltage of 1.59 V to reach the 10 mA·cm−2 against the Pt/C Ⅱ RuO2 (1.64 V) in overall water splitting. This work proposes a feasible method to construct a robust electrocatalysts for HER in full pH range.

Slip to π Ru: structural distortions due to metal-iminoxolene π bonding.

Both pseudo-octahedral and pseudo-square pyramidal bis-iminoxolene complexes trans-(Diso)2RuCl2 and trans-(Diso)2Ru(PPh3) are structurally distorted, with the ruthenium atom slipping off the twofold axis of the idealized coordination polyhedra. These distortions take place because they allow or enhance π interactions between ruthenium and the iminoxolene π orbitals.

Elastic scattering of ruthenium atoms from Si and O atoms in the range of relative kinetic energies of 2-200 eV

Interconnector technologies of a new generation involve the use of ruthenium. The high cost of experimental study of sputtering and etching of trenches in Ru leads to the need to optimize it by modeling that requires knowledge of the cross sections of elementary processes of interaction of plasma particles with Ru. In this work, the binary interatomic potentials of Ru-Ru and Ru-Si pairs tested by the molecular dynamics method, and the Ru-O one calculated by the method of multi-reference configurational interaction MRCI/AV5Z were used to calculate the elastic scattering cross sections of the atomic pairs in the energy range typical of plasma etching chambers. Keywords: ruthenium, elastic scattering, cross sections, sputtering, binary potential.

New insights into the crystal structure of UTE0.25Ge2 = U4TGe8 (TE = Ru, Os) and ferromagnetic properties of the Os-bearing uranium germanide

A single crystal of the compound previously described as “URu0.25Ge2” was studied by means of transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The experiments revealed that the deficient ruthenium atoms order to a superstructure of the CeNiSi2 structure-type with space group P21/n (no. 14) and cell parameters a’ ​= ​5.7422(7) Å, b’ ​= ​15.931(2) Å, c’ ​= ​11.4903(9) Å and β’ ​= ​90.755(8)°, corresponding to the Tb4FeGe8-type structure. In addition, a new isostructural compound, U4OsGe8, was synthesized and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, DC magnetization, AC susceptibility, electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements. The experiments showed that it crystallizes with the monoclinic, ordered P21/n unit cell with lattice parameters a’ ​= ​5.7438(1) Å, b’ ​= ​15.9355(1) Å, c’ ​= ​11.4586(1) Å and β’ ​= ​90.681(1)°, and orders ferromagnetically at about 54 ​K, which is clearly seen in all the physical properties studied. Moreover, its electrical resistivity was found to exhibit features characteristic of semimetals, and the electron contribution to the specific heat is moderately enhanced, as in all other known phases of the UTE1-xGe2 (with TE ​= ​transition element) family of compounds.

Isolated Electron‐Rich Ruthenium Atoms in Intermetallic Compounds for Boosting Electrochemical Nitric Oxide Reduction to Ammonia

AbstractThe direct electrochemical nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) is an attractive technique for converting NO into NH3 with low power consumption under ambient conditions. Optimizing the electronic structure of the active sites can greatly improve the performance of electrocatalysts. Herein, we prepare body‐centered cubic RuGa intermetallic compounds (i.e., bcc RuGa IMCs) via a substrate‐anchored thermal annealing method. The electrocatalyst exhibits a remarkable NH4+ yield rate of 320.6 μmol h−1 mg−1Ru with the corresponding Faradaic efficiency of 72.3 % at very low potential of −0.2 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in neutral media. Theoretical calculations reveal that the electron‐rich Ru atoms in bcc RuGa IMCs facilitate the adsorption and activation of *HNO intermediate. Hence, the energy barrier of the potential‐determining step in NORR could be greatly reduced.

Isolated Electron-Rich Ruthenium Atoms in Intermetallic Compounds for Boosting Electrochemical Nitric Oxide Reduction to Ammonia.

The direct electrochemical nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) is an attractive technique for converting NO into NH3 with low power consumption under ambient conditions. Optimizing the electronic structure of the active sites can greatly improve the performance of electrocatalysts. Herein, we prepare body-centered cubic RuGa intermetallic compounds (i.e., bcc RuGa IMCs) via a substrate-anchored thermal annealing method. The electrocatalyst exhibits a remarkable NH4 + yield rate of 320.6 μmol h-1 mg-1 Ru with the corresponding Faradaic efficiency of 72.3 % at very low potential of -0.2 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in neutral media. Theoretical calculations reveal that the electron-rich Ru atoms in bcc RuGa IMCs facilitate the adsorption and activation of *HNO intermediate. Hence, the energy barrier of the potential-determining step in NORR could be greatly reduced.

Ruthenium ion modification of glassy carbon: Implication on the structural evolution and migration behaviour of implanted Ru atoms

Glassy carbon samples were implanted with ruthenium ions to a fluence of 1 × 1016 cm−2 at room temperature (at 150 keV). The implanted samples were annealed isochronally in vacuum from 1000 to 1300 °C for 5 h. The resulting microstructural changes were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The diffusion behaviour of ruthenium in glassy carbon was investigated using secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Raman results showed that the implantation of ruthenium into glassy carbon caused amorphization and increase the tensile stress in the implanted region. XRD showed that the amount of tensile stress in virgin glassy carbon increased from 0.016 GPa to 0.19 GPa after ion implantation which is in qualitative agreement with the Raman results. Annealing of the samples exhibited more recrystallization and changed the tensile stress to compressive stress. SIMS results showed that annealing of the as-implanted samples at 1000 °C caused aggregation of the ruthenium atoms, while annealing at higher temperatures led to some segregation of ruthenium atoms at a depth of 155 nm below the glassy carbon surface. The aggregation of ruthenium atoms after annealing (as observed by SIMS) played a role in the surface roughness as observed by AFM.