COLLISION-INDUCED DISSOCIATION OF TITANIUM-CARBON CLUSTER CATIONS

Titanium-carbon clusters are investigated by collision induced dissociation (CID) using our newly designed triple quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled with a laser vaporization source. Their fragmentation patterns are determined under various collision conditions. It is observed that the Met-Car Ti 8C12+ mainly loses a neutral metal atom in the primary dissociation step and several metal atoms in sequential dissociation processes. The dissociation threshold of the Met-Car Ti8C 12+ is estimated to be about 9 eV. In addition, several of the larger TixCy+ cluster ions, including those containing nine or ten metal atoms, are found to fragment directly to Ti8C12+ during single step dissociation. Product channels for dissociation of Ti9C12+ establishes the ionization potential for Ti8C12 to be equal to, or less than the IP of the titanium atom. © 1994 American Institute of Physics.