Pavel Kubáček1, Lubomír Prokeš1,2,3, Annapurna Pamreddy1, Eladia María Peña-Méndez4, José Elias Conde4, Milan Alberti2, Josef Havel1. 1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A14, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic. 2. Department of Physical Electronics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic. 3. CEPLANT, R&D Centre for Low-Cost Plasma and Nanotechnology Surface Modifications, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic. 4. Departamento de Química, Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n, 38206, La Laguna, Spain.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Only a few arsenic phosphides are known. A high potential for the generation of new compounds is offered by Laser Ablation Synthesis (LAS) and when Laser Desorption Ionization (LDI) is coupled with simultaneous Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOFMS), immediate identification of the clusters can be achieved. METHODS: LAS was used for the generation of arsenic phosphides via laser ablation of phosphorus-arsenic mixtures while quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QIT-TOFMS) was used to acquire the mass spectra. RESULTS: Many new Asm Pn± clusters (479 binary and 369 mono-elemental) not yet described in the literature were generated in the gas phase and their stoichiometry determined. The likely structures for some of the observed clusters arbitrary selected (20) were computed by density functional theory (DFT) optimization. CONCLUSIONS: LAS is an advantageous approach for the generation of new Asm Pn clusters, while mass spectrometry was found to be an efficient technique for the determination of cluster stoichiometry. The results achieved might inspire the synthesis of new materials.
RATIONALE: Only a few arsenic phosphides are known. A high potential for the generation of new compounds is offered by Laser Ablation Synthesis (LAS) and when Laser Desorption Ionization (LDI) is coupled with simultaneous Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOFMS), immediate identification of the clusters can be achieved. METHODS:LAS was used for the generation of arsenic phosphides via laser ablation of phosphorus-arsenic mixtures while quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QIT-TOFMS) was used to acquire the mass spectra. RESULTS: Many new Asm Pn± clusters (479 binary and 369 mono-elemental) not yet described in the literature were generated in the gas phase and their stoichiometry determined. The likely structures for some of the observed clusters arbitrary selected (20) were computed by density functional theory (DFT) optimization. CONCLUSIONS:LAS is an advantageous approach for the generation of new Asm Pn clusters, while mass spectrometry was found to be an efficient technique for the determination of cluster stoichiometry. The results achieved might inspire the synthesis of new materials.