Generation of AupAgqTer clusters via laser ablation synthesis using Au-Ag- Te nano-composite as precursor: Laser desorption ionisation with quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2014 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6936 |
| Field | Analytic chemistry |
| Keywords | Mass spectrometry; Tellurium; nano-composite |
| Description | RATIONALE: Metal tellurides show applications in various fields of science and technology while only limited number of gold-silver tellurides is known. Laser ablation synthesis (LAS) method allows preparation of nano-materials from solid substrates. Therefore, this method was selected to synthesize gold-silver tellurides. METHODS: Laser desorption ionisation quadruple ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI QIT TOF MS) was used for generation of new AupAgqTer clusters. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to characterize the materials. The stoichiometry of clusters generated was determined via collision-induced dissociation (CID) and modeling of isotopic patterns. RESULTS: Chemisorption of gold and silver nano-particles on tellurium powder leads to the formation of a new kind of Au-Ag-Te nano-composite. The LDI of this nano-composite leads to the formation of 9 unary (Agq, Ter), 40 binary (AupTer and AgpTer) and 78 ternary clusters. The stoichiometry of novel AupAgqTer clusters is reported here for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: New Au-Ag-Te nano-composite was found as more suitable precursor for clusters generation than the mixtures of the elements. TOF MS was demonstrated to be a useful technique to follow the generation of gold-silver tellurides. Knowledge of clusters stoichiometry might accelerate further development of novel high-tech materials such as chalcogenide glasses. |
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