RADIATION DAMAGE OF ORDERED V6C5 BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPE BEAM BOMBARDMENT

The superlattice and domain structures exhibited by the ordered compound V6C5 are disrupted by electron microscope beam bombardment. The effect is attributed to the disordering of the carbon sublattice that results from displacement of the carbon atoms by the impinging electrons. Studies have been made of the disordering rate under electron bombardment at energies from 33 kev to 100 kev, using a Faraday cup to measure superlattice spot intensities. The results are compared with the predictions of a simple theory for the damage process, from which it is concluded that the displacement energy of carbon atoms in V6C5 has the surprisingly low value of 5·4 ev. © 1969 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.