A New Method for Surface Ionization of Organic Molecules by Attachment of Alkali Ions in Moderate Electric Fields

Abstract

It is shown that polar organic molecules may be ionized at metal surfaces by attachment of alkali ions in moderate electric fields. Lithium salts adsorbed on tungsten surfaces were employed for this method of ionization. The alkali ion attachment results from a surface reaction in the transition region between a thermal and field ionization. The particular advantage of this ionization method lies in the production of very simple mass spectra which contain no decomposition products of ions.