Fredriksson, Hans; Ketteler, Guido; Kasemo, Bengt; Chakarov, Dinko Sverige
We use different experimental methods to follow the uptake and release of water from flat and nanostructured highly oriented pyrolytic graphite samples and the effects of water on the mechanical properties of nanostructured graphite. Applying temperature programmed desorption spectroscopy we found indications on intercalation of water following transient binding to defect sites and accumulate in the subsurface regions. The process is thermally activated and could be manipulated by changing the water vapor pressure or amount of water (ice) on the graphite surface. Photoelectron and vibration spectroscopy data indicate strong perturbance of the intercalated water molecules compared to these adsorbed on the surface.