Abstract
The emission properties of tungsten emitters activated with benzonitrile, such as are used in analytical organic field ion mass spectrometry, have been investigated using n-heptane as test gas. It was discovered that these emission properties are influenced principally by the morphological structure and electronic state of the surfaces of the microneedles; the bulk structure of these organic agglomerates has practically no effect on their ionization behaviour. Field ion microscope investigation of emitters activated at high temperature (HT) revealed a similar surface structure to that of pyrolytic graphite; emitters activated at room temperature (RT) showed less order. The emission regions of highest electric field strength on the tips of the needles are projecting points, ledges, and in the case of HT-emitters, structure planes. A decrease in the mean emission field strength results from the formation of solid deposits on the needle surfaces. A field corrosion of the needle tips occurs in the presence of high pressures of water and leads also to an irreversible decrease in the mean emission field strength. The effect of physically adsorbed layers on the emission properties of the emitter surface is discussed in terms of the influences of the electric field penetration on the electronic properties of the needles.
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