Coupling of desorption and photoionization processes in two-step laser mass spectrometry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 92; no. 4; pp. 969 - 974
• Main Authors: Faccinetto, A., Thomson, K., Ziskind, M., Focsa, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.09.2008; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied physics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Coupling (molecular); Desorption; Internal energy; Ionization; Ions; Lasers; Machines; Manufacturing; Mass spectrometry; Materials science; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Photoionization; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Polyallylamine hydrochloride; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Processes; Scientific imaging; Signatures; Spectroscopy; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; 33.80.Rv; 68.43.Tj; 82.80.Rt
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-008-4605-0

The response of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to different desorption and ionization fluences has been investigated in a laser desorption/multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry scheme. The results evidence an intricate relationship between the desorption and ionization steps, tentatively attributed to the amount of internal energy acquired by the desorbed molecules. Different behaviors have been found for the various PAHs considered, leading to a parametric “signature” for each species. Moreover, some insights on the fragmentation mechanism of the desorbed PAHs have been obtained, with possible interpretation in the frame of a “ladder-switching” model.