Mass spectrometric observations of ions in flow discharges

Abstract

Positive and negative ions present in a gas-flow discharge system have, for a number of different gases, been analyzed by means of a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Kinetic observations on certain ions which decay principally within the main discharge, and on other ions which decay principally downstream of the main discharge, are reported. Approximate rate constants for removal of NO⁺, H₃O⁺, Ar⁺, O⁺ and O⁺₂ are given, and plausible mechanisms for removal of these ions are suggested. Preliminary observations on the rates of formation of certain ion hydrates were also made. When cyanogen was added to the discharge products from oxygen or nitrogen, many new ions were formed, at least some of which under certain conditions seem to be based on C_nN_m polymers.