Photoionization Mass Spectrometry of C60 and C70 with a Vacuum Ultraviolet Hydrogen Laser Source

Abstract

A time-of-flight mass spectrum of the C60 and C70 fullerenes with the use of a vacuum ultraviolet H2 laser photoionization source is presented. The photon energy is 7.8 eV, approximately 0.2 eV above the reported ion thresholds of both molecules. This relatively low excess energy is believed to be insufficient for fragmentation, as demonstrated by production of only parent ions.