Specific features of carbon diffusion between surface and metal bulk, containing graphite phase in adlayer

The specific features of carbon diffusion between the surface and the metal bulk have been considered with account taken of coexistence of two phases in the adlayer: chemisorbed carbon gas and graphite islands as well as of the specific structure of the graphite islands whose central part is spaced apart from the surface (by ≥ 4 A) whereas the edges are on the surface. It is shown that not all the absorbed carbon participates in the diffusion flux into the metal bulk, as it is generally believed, but only its small fraction contained in chemisorbed gas, carbon from the graphite island not participating. It is shown that the formation of the of the graphite monolayer on the surface does not stop carbon diffusion from the metal bulk