Generation of new Agm Ten clusters via laser ablation synthesis using Ag-Te nano-composite as precursor. Quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Silver tellurides find applications in the development of infrared detection, imaging, magnetics, sensors, memory devices, and optic materials. However, only a limited number of silver tellurides have been described to date. Laser ablation synthesis (LAS) was selected to generate new Ag-Te clusters.
METHODS: Isothermal adsorption was used to study the formation of silver nano-particles-tellurium aggregates. Laser desorption ionization quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-QIT-TOFMS) was used for the generation and analysis of Agm Ten clusters. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to visualize the structure of materials. The stoichiometry of the generated clusters was determined by computer modeling of isotopic patterns.
RESULTS: A simple, one-pot method for the preparation of Ag-Te nano-composite was developed and found suitable for LAS of silver tellurides. The LDI of Ag-Te nano-composite leads to the formation of 11 unary and 52 binary clusters. The stoichiometry of the 34 novel Agm Ten clusters is reported here for the first time.
CONCLUSIONS: LAS with TOFMS detection was proven to be a powerful technique for the generation of silver telluride clusters. Knowledge of the stoichiometry of the generated clusters might facilitate the further development of novel high-tech silver tellurium nano-materials.