DISTINCTION BETWEEN MULTICHARGED FULLERENE IONS AND THEIR FRAGMENT IONS WITH EQUAL CHARGE-TO-MASS

Distinction between multiply charged fullerene ions C-60(q)+ and their fragments with equal charge-to-mass ratio in a mixed cluster ion beam has been achieved by measuring the number statistics for the electron emission induced by impact of the respective ions on a clean metal su rface, The new method is described with a practical example for a mixe d beam of C-60(4+) C-15(+). In addition, we show that this principle - that is, different electron emission characteristics for fullerene io ns with different charges and masses but the same charge-to-mass ratio - can be utilized in any common ion mass spectrometer to distinguish various fullerene ions and their coinciding fragments by a judicious c hoice of the detector multiplier voltage. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B. V.