Gas phase ion molecule reactions in phosphine germane mixtures studied by ion trapping

Gaseous mixtures of phosphine and germane have been investigated by ion trap mass spectrometry. Reaction path ways together with rate constants of the main reactions are reported. The mechanisms of ion/molecule reactions have been elucidated by single and multiple isolation steps. The GeHn+ (n = 1-3) ions react with phosphine to give GiePH(n)(+) (n = 2-4) ions. The GePH4+ ion further reacts with GeH4 to yield Ge2PH6+. The GePHn+ (n = 2-4) mixed ionic family also originates from the P+ phosphine primary ion, as well as from the P2Hn+ (n = 0-3) secondary ions of phosphine reacting with neutral germane and from Ge2H2+ reacting with phosphine. The main reaction pathways of the PHn+ (n = 0-2) ions with GeH4 lead to the formation of the GeH2+ and GeH3+ ionic species. Protonation of phosphine from different ionic precursors is a very common process and yields the stable phosphonium ion, PH4+. Trends in total abundances of secondary GePHn+ (n = 2-4) ions as function of reaction time for different PH3/GeH4 pressure ratios show that excess of germane slightly affects the nucleation of mixed Ge-P ions.