Comparison of Clusters Produced from Sb2Se3 Homemade Polycrystalline Material, Thin Films, and Commercial Polycrystalline Bulk Using Laser Desorption Ionization with Time of Flight Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

This study compared Sb₂Se₃ material in the form of commercial polycrystalline bulk, sputtered thin film, and homemade polycrystalline material using laser desorption ionization (LDI) time of flight mass spectrometry with quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry. It also analyzed the stoichiometry of the Sb_mSe_n clusters formed. The results showed that homemade Sb₂Se₃ bulk was more stable compared to thin film; its mass spectra showed the expected cluster formation. The use of materials for surface-assisted LDI (SALDI), i.e., graphene, graphene oxide, and C₆₀, significantly increased the mass spectra intensity. In total, 19 Sb_mSe_n clusters were observed. Six novel, high-mass clusters—Sb₄Se₄⁺, Sb₅Se_3-6⁺, and Sb₇Se₄⁺—were observed for the first time when using paraffin as a protective agent.