Study of the interactions of magnesium(+) and nickel(+) with polar molecules using laser vaporization-ionization high-pressure mass spectrometry

The objective of the work presented in this thesis is to compare the reactions of laser-generated Mg+ with some polar molecules such as CH₃OH, CH₃CN, CH₃OCH₃, and the mixtures of CH₃CN/CH₃OH and CH₃CN/H ₂O. For comparison, the reactions of Ni+ with methanol were also investigated. The reactions were studied using the laser vaporization-ionization technique coupled to high-pressure mass spectrometry (LVI-HPMS).; In the experiments, the metal cations were generated by focusing the output of the second harmonic of a Nd:YAG Laser (532nm, energy 10–50 mJ/pulse, 10−8s pulse width, pulsed at 5Hz) on the metal target of interest placed inside the HPMS source. A vapor mixture of the reactive component (methanol, acetonitrile, dimethyl ether, etc.) of known composition in Ar/He carrier gas was admitted to the ion source at selected pressures via an adjustable needle valve. Ions exited the source through a 0.02cm diameter hole and were analyzed using a quadrupole mass filter (Extrel C-50), which was mounted coaxially to the ion exit hole. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...