Detection of explosive related nitroaromatic compounds (ERNC) by laser-based ion mobility spectrometry

In this study two issues are addressed, namely laser ionisation of selected nitroaromatic compounds (NAC) and the characterisation of their anions by photodetachment (PD) spectroscopy. Laser ionisation of the NAC at λ = 226.75 nm is investigated by ion mobility (IM) spectrometry at atmospheric pressure. The main product after laser ionisation is the reactive NO+ ion formed in a sequence of photofragmentation and multiphoton ionisation processes. NO+ is trapped by specific ion molecule reactions (IMR). Alternatively, NO, added as laser dopant, can directly be ionised. The formed NO+ reacts with the NAC under complex formation. This allows fragmentless NAC detection. The combination of IM spectrometry and PD spectroscopy provides real-time characterisation of the anions in the IM spectrum. This is useful to differentiate between NAC and interfering substances and, thus, to reduce false-positive detections of NAC. The electrons detached by the PD laser at λ = 532 nm are detected in the same spectrum as the anions. The potential of PD-IM spectrometry in terms of cross section determination, analytical improvements, tomographic mapping, spatial hole burning etc., is outlined.