| Abstract: | The application of a new technique which involves the combination of charge stripping and charge exchange processes has been investigated. Ions are charge-stripped in the second field-free region of a triple-sector mass spectrometer (BEE geometry), and then subjected to a charge exchange reaction in the third field-free region. The resulting charge stripping/charge exchange (CS/CE) spectrum is free from interference, which is otherwise common in charge stripping spectra. Comparisons between charge stripping and CS/CE spectra are made in cases where both kinds of spectra are obtainable. In order to assess the applicability of this new technique to studies of isomeric ion structures, species for which charge stripping spectra have previously been unobtainable have been chosen. CS/CE spectra of [C6H6]+˙, [C6H5]+, [C8H10]+˙ and [C7H7O]+ ions from a variety of precursors are recorded: in most cases, sufficient differences are observed to permit distinction between isomeric structures (or mixtures of structures). Previous studies which have shown that stable doubly charged molecular ions of ethane cannot be formed by the charge stripping technique are confirmed from its CS/CE spectrum. |
