Vacuum ultraviolet radiation for single-photoionization mass spectrometry: A review

Vacuum ultraviolet (VU) radiation may be employed to perform single-photoionization (SPI) mass spectrometry (MS). Advantages of the use of VUV include its application to all compounds with ionization potentials below 10.5 eV, its inability to ionize background gases, and minimal ion fragmentation compared to most other ionization methods. This paper is a review of the use of VUV for SPI-MS in analytical chemistry. Theoretical aspects of the production of VUV are discussed, along with experimental arrangements. Practical hints on the construction and production of VUV light are also included. Some examples of SPI mass spectra are presented, along with a summary of applications of this technique. (C) 1999 Academic Press.