Group IIB-VIA semiconductor oxide cluster ions.

Metal oxide cluster ions, M n O m ± (M = Zn, Cd) and Hg n O m − of various stoichiometry have been generated from solid IIB-VIA semiconductor oxides targets, (ZnO (s) , CdO (s) , and HgO (s) ) by using pulse laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry with a laser of λ = 355 nm. Analysis of mass spectral data indicates the formation of stoichiometric cluster ions viz., (ZnO) n=1-30 + and (CdO) n=1-40 + along with –O bound anions, (ZnO) n=1-30 O − , (CdO) n=1-40 O − and (HgO) n=1-36 O − from their respective solids. Further, metal oxoanions such as ZnO n=2,3 − , CdO n=2,3,6 − , and HgO n=2,3,6,7 − have also been noted signifying the higher coordination ability of both Cd and Hg with O/O 2 /O 3 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]