Kinetic energy release for metastable fullerene ions

Kinetic energy release distributions for spontaneous (metastable) decay of fullerene ions, C-n(z+), have been determined for parent sizes n = 58, 60, and 70, and charge states z = 1, 2, 3, and 4. Extensive numerical modeling has been applied to verify that the shapes of fragment ion peaks in our mas s-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra are not affected by discrimina tion, making it possible to derive the center-of-mass total kinetic energy release distributions directly from the spectra. Measurements involving C3H 8+ and C3H7+ ions confirm the accuracy of the approach. (Int J Mass Spectro m 185/186/187 (1999) 813-823) (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.