Mass spectrometric identification of singly-charged anionic and cationic sulfur, selenium, tellurium and phosphorus species produced by laser ablation

Laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry of the elements sulfur, selenium, tellurium and phosphorus has shown a range of polynuclear ions in both positive and negative ion modes. Three-dimensional topographical surfaces are used to display changes in the speciation of sulfur ions with increasing laser power under laser desorption/ionisation conditions, using a technique described as energy-dependent laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry; the positive and negative ion spectra of sulfur are both dominated by singly-charged ions, with S5 + and S3 − showing particular intensity. Similar results are also reported for the other title elements.