Desorption of metasilicate and related polysilicate ions from sodium silicate solution by liquid-target secondary ion mass spectrometry

Abstract

Liquid-target secondary ion mass spectrometry of a Na silicate solution (SiO₂ : Na₂O 3.22; molarity of Si, 6.6; pH, 11.3) produced a negative ion spectrum due to HSi_nO_{2n+ 1}^– ions and their fragmentation products, only singly charged silicate ions being detected which are not considered to be dehydration products of H_{3 + 2m}Si_nO_2n+m+1^–; the detection of only these species is not in discord with studies of bulk silicate solutions because the technique samples solutions near their surfaces.