Californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometry of gold clusters: fragmentation patterns in small clusters and differences in sample composition in large clusters

A series of small gold phosphine clusters, have been studied using 252 -Cf-plasma desorption mass spectrometry ( 252 Cf-PDMS). This series of well-characterized clusters was studied to develop an understanding of 252 Cf-PDMS as applied to gold clusters and, hence, use 252 Cf-PDMS to study much larger gold clusters. The study of small gold clusters indicates that extensive fragmentation occurs