The Formation of [TiO(H_2O)_n]~+ Cluster Ions

摘要

Gas phase [TiO(H_2O)_n]~+ clusters are produced by laser induced plasma reactions of titanium and water, and studied using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. More than 60 water molecules clus- ter onto TiO~+; but, no [Ti(H_2O)_n]~+ clusters are observed. The clus- ter size distributions of [TiO(H_2O)_n]~+ can be fit to log-normal cur- ves. Considered in the context of other data reported herein for cluster distributions of [NbO(H_2O)_n]~+, it is concluded that the clus- ter formation and growth proceed via a coalescence mechanism be- tween [TiO(H_2O)_n]~+ and water molecule(s), which may lead to the formation of solvation shells.