Production of Copper Oxide Negative Cluster Ions

Copper oxide cluster ions CunOm- n=1-22, m=1-12 are generated by 523 nm laser ablation of CuCO3 solid sample with Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer detection. By changing precursor, we get similar TOF MS from Cu(NO3)(2) sample, but narrower mass distribution from CuO sample. We suggest that this is caused by collisionally stabilization. Small gas molecules CO2 and NO2, generated by laser ablation CuCO3 and Cu(NO3)(2), act as buffer gas in supersonic molecular beams, and they are helpful for the production of high mass clusters.