Collision-induced dissociation of Nb (x) O (y) (+) (x=1, 2, y=2-12) clusters: crossed molecular beams and collision cell studies

Abstract

Oxygen-rich niobium oxide clusters are formed by mixing laser-produced Nb plasma with pure oxygen, and their stability is investigated by mass spectrometry and collision-induced dissociation. We use an experimental configuration recently developed by our group, where the cluster ions beam is crossed with a secondary beam of noble gas atoms, and the fragments are rejected by a retarding field energy analyzer. In this way, the relative collision cross sections of Nb (x) O (y) (+) (x = 1, 2, y = 2-12) clusters have been measured and information about their fragmentation channels has been obtained.