title: Pulsed radiofrequency glow discharge time-of-flight mass spectrometry for molecular depth profiling of polymer-based films.
abstract: We demonstrate the potential of an innovative technique, pulsed radiofrequency glow discharge time-of-flight mass spectrometry, for the molecular depth profiling of polymer materials. The technique benefits from the presence, in the afterglow of the pulsed glow discharge, of fragment ions that can be related to the structures of the polymers under study. Thin films of different polymers (PMMA, PET, PAMS, PS) were successfully profiled with retention of molecular information along the profile. Multilayered structures of the above polymers were also profiled, and it was possible to discriminate among layers having similar elemental composition but different polymer structure.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Nunzio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tuccitto
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tempez
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delfanti
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chapon
authors.forename: Stela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canulescu
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bordel
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michler
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Licciardello