Ion/Molecule Reactions of Silver Cluster Cations with Crown Ethers in a Cylindrical Ion Trap

Abstract

For observing gas-phase ion/molecule reactions of metal cluster cations, a cylindrical ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer was newly constructed. This apparatus consists of an external sputtering ion source, ion deceleration lens system, cylindrical ion trap and time-of-flight mass analyzer with four toroidal electric sectors. Using this apparatus, ion/molecule reactions of silver cluster cation, Ag5+, with crown ether, 12-crown-4 (12C4), were observed. The cluster-ligand complexes, [Ag5(12C4)n]+ (n=1–3) and fragmentations of the cluster induced by adducts of crown ether molecules were also observed.