Energetic D+ and He+ impinging on solid beryllium: Observation of physical and chemically assisted atomic and molecular ion sputtering

•Chemical assisted sputtering of deuterons colliding with a heated beryllium surface.•Pure physical sputtering upon helium ion collisions with the same surface.•Various ablated ions were analyzed by mass spectrometry.•Adsorption of water to the surface leads to additional ablated ions.•Analogous to impact of plasma deuterons on first wall in fusion devices.