C60H2: Recovery and decline – An investigation by MALDI mass spectrometry

Abstract The smallest hydro-[60]fullerene, C 60 H 2 , has been studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The ionisation of C 60 H 2 was accomplished for the first time free of unwanted dissociations in electron transfer reactions with cations derived from the DCTB matrix. The findings pave the way to the use of MALDI for the quantitation of lower hydrofullerenes or investigations into the release of hydrogen. Direct LDI and negative-ion MALDI are less suited for a meaningful analysis. However, negative-ion MALDI reveals that C 60 H 2 degrades through oxidation.