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Gallium selenide clusters generated via laser desorption ionisation quadrupole ion trap time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Pečinka Lukáš,
Prokeš Lubomír,
Havel Josef
Publication year - 2019
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.8403
Subject(s) - gallium , chemistry , mass spectrometry , reflectron , selenide , analytical chemistry (journal) , mass spectrum , ion , time of flight , laser , time of flight mass spectrometry , quadrupole , ionization , atomic physics , optics , chromatography , physics , organic chemistry , selenium
Rationale Gallium selenide thin films important for electronics and phase‐change materials are prepared via pulsed laser deposition (PLD); however, there are no studies concerning the analysis of gallium selenide clusters formed in the gas phase. Laser desorption ionisation (LDI) combined with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (TOF‐MS) has great potential to generate charged Ga m Se n clusters, to analyse them and thus to develop new materials. Methods LDI of Ga‐Se mixtures using a pulsed laser (337 nm nitrogen) was used to generate gallium‐selenide clusters. Mass spectra were recorded (in positive and negative ion mode) on a TOF mass spectrometer equipped with a quadrupole ion trap and reflectron mass analyser. Results Ga‐Se mixtures were found to be suitable for laser ablation synthesis (LAS) of gallium selenide clusters, although their composition was strongly dependent on the laser energy. The effect of laser energy on the stoichiometry of the generated clusters was established. In total, over 100 gallium selenide Ga m Se n clusters were generated and identified from Ga‐Se mixtures. LDI of Ga 2 Se 3 crystals showed almost the same clusters up to m / z 1000 with lower intensities, whereas no clusters from Ga 2 Se 3 were observed above m / z 1000. Conclusions A family of over 100 gallium selenide clusters, generated and identified for the first time, shows rich and complex chemistry. Some of the clusters represent new compounds that have the potential to be used in the development of advanced materials.