title: Systematization of the mass spectra for speciation of inorganic salts with static secondary ion mass spectrometry.
abstract: The analytical use of mass spectra from static secondary ion mass spectrometry for the molecular identification of inorganic analytes in real life surface layers and microobjects requires an empirical insight in the signals to be expected from a given compound. A comprehensive database comprising over 50 salts has been assembled to complement prior data on oxides. The present study allows the systematic trends in the relationship between the detected signals and molecular composition of the analyte to be delineated. The mass spectra provide diagnostic information by means of atomic ions, structural fragments, molecular ions, and adduct ions of the analyte neutrals. The prediction of mass spectra from a given analyte must account for the charge state of the ions in the salt, the formation of oxide-type neutrals from oxy salts, and the occurrence of oxidation-reduction processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Ham
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Vaeck
authors.forename: Freddy C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Annemie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adriaens
mesh_terms: D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012492:Salts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018629:Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D012492:Salts