A NOVEL METHOD FOR DETECTION OF RADICAL SPECIES IN THE GAS-PHASE - USAGE OF LI+ ION ATTACHMENT TO CHEMICAL-SPECIES

This report describes a new method for detection and identification of intermediate radical species in the gas phase. It provides mass spectra of quasi-molecular ions formed by lithium-ion attachment to the radical species (R) under high pressure, Results are obtained in the form of a mass spectrometric trace of Li+ adduct radicals. As an example, the method was applied to the study of the microwave discharge in i-butane/He and was successfully used for the qualitative analysis of the compositions of hydrocarbon radicals in the discharge. Various kinds of hydrocarbon radicals, such as CnH2n-1 and CnH2n+1 (where n = 2-6), were identified.