High-efficiency surface-induced dissociation on a rhenium oxide surface.

Area of Science:

• Physical Chemistry
• Surface Science
• Mass Spectrometry

Background:

• Surface-induced dissociation (SID) is a key process in ion scattering analysis.
• High work function surfaces can minimize ion reneutralization, improving signal detection.
• Rhenium oxide (ReO) is a material with a high work function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficiency of surface-induced dissociation (SID) of benzene and cyclohexane ions on a rhenium oxide surface.
• To characterize the rhenium oxide surface and its properties relevant to ion scattering.
• To compare the SID efficiency of rhenium oxide with other surfaces like bare rhenium and stainless steel.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a rhenium oxide surface by heating rhenium metal foil under oxygen pressure.
• Characterization of the rhenium oxide surface, noting its high work function (6.4 eV).
• Scattering benzene and cyclohexane ions with kinetic energies ranging from 5-290 eV off the prepared surface and analyzing dissociation yields.

Main Results:

• Achieved high-efficiency surface-induced dissociation (SID) for benzene and cyclohexane ions.
• Observed a 70-fold increase in the SID ion current on rhenium oxide compared to bare rhenium or stainless steel.
• Measured absolute scattered ion yields of approximately 50%.

Conclusions:

• Rhenium oxide is a highly effective surface for enhancing surface-induced dissociation (SID) in ion scattering experiments.
• The high work function of rhenium oxide minimizes ion reneutralization, leading to significantly improved ion yields.
• These findings have important implications for improving mass spectrometry techniques utilizing supersonic molecular beams.