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Study of clusters by mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Stamatović A. S.,
Maerk T. D.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.1290050115
Subject(s) - reflectron , chemistry , mass spectrometry , dynode , photoionization , electron ionization , ion , ionization , ion source , analytical chemistry (journal) , thermal ionization mass spectrometry , metastability , atomic physics , time of flight mass spectrometry , physics , chromatography , anode , organic chemistry , electrode
A review of mass spectrometric methods used to study different kinds of clusters is presented. These methods have proved to be indispensable in the cluster field owing to their great flexibility, sensitivity and wide dynamic range. This reviews presents new mass spectrometric methods and techniques such as quadrupole analysers and RF lenses, different ion‐trap geometries, time‐of‐flight (TOF) methods including the reflectron geometry). A variety of ionization methods, both for the production of positive and negative ions, with different amounts of released excess energy, are discussed in detail. Special attention is given to different degree of post‐ionization fragmentaqtion and metastability of ions produced by the respective ionization methods. The ability to follow the metastable decay processes in rather different time‐windows is also one of the salient features of the mass spectrometric methods reviewed here, involving both classical and new geometries. Detection of very large cluster ions by conventional methods is not always effective, and alternative methods like post‐acceleration and using a conversion dynode in front of the multiplier will be included here. Moreover, mass spectrometric methods offer the possibility of producing beams of mass‐selected cluster ions necessary for the study of a whole line of process like optical spectrometry, photodetachment, photofragmentation, photoionization, electron beam ionization, and charge‐exchange processes. Examples of these processes are also discussed in this review.