| Studies of mercury evaporated onto the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) have been conducted with scanning tunneling microscopy. During these studies cratering phenomena was discovered on the graphite surface. Experimentation was conducted to isolate the cratering phenomena. Data analysis from these studies reveal the cratering is due to the mercurial evaporation process and has been predicted theoretically with impact dynamics. Further, standard models of wear can be applied successfully to the crater phenomena. |
