Ultrasensitive fingerprint detection of organometallic compounds by laser multiphoton ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

Fast, sensitive, and selective fingerprint detection of organometallics, with emphasis on dimethyltelluride CH3TeCH3, is described, using short and ultrashort pulse tunable dye laser controlled time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Excellent spatial (∼10 μm) and time (≪1 ns) resolutions combined with high single shot selectivity and sensitivity down to 10−7 Torr and below (corresponding to 3×109 cm−3 or about 3000 molecules in the observation region) plus mass identification are obtained.