Surface-induced dissociation and reactions of cations and dications C7H8+/2+, C7H7+/2+ and C7H62+: Dependence of mass spectra of product ions on incident energy of the projectiles

Surface-induced dissociation and reactions of singly-charged ions C7Hn+ (n = 8, 7) and of doubly-charged ions C7Hn2+ (n = 8, 7, 6), produced by electron ionization of toluene, with hydrocarbon-covered stainless steel surface have been investigated in the incident energy range from 5 to 50 eV. The mass-selected beam of projectile ion was focused onto the surface under 45° and product ions reflected were monitored using a TOF mass spectrometer. The relative abundance of product ions was determined in dependence on incident projectile-ion energy (collision-energy resolved mass spectra, CERMS curves). An important process in surface collisions of the dications is single-electron exchange with the surface and formation of monocation intermediates. Comparison of the mass spectra of the incident cations and dications made it possible to elucidate major reaction pathways.