Secondary ion emission from glycerol under continuous and pulsed primary ion current

Secondary ion intensity from glycerol is measured as a function of 5 keV primary ion current density and is found to be linear over the range 0.1–1 μA cm^?2. The possibility that protonated glycerol, or some other condensed-phase precursor to secondary protonated glycerol, exists in solution and enhances secondary ion emission from glycerol is investigated. Kinetics for formation of such precursors by the primary ion beam are described and evaluated by pulsed primary ion beam experiments. Depletion rates are calculated assuming diffusion from the surface as the major loss mechanism Results of this analysis indicate that the mechanism for secondary emission of protonated glycerol does not involve formation of precursors, e.g. solution-phase protonated glycerol, directly or indirectly by the primary ion beam.