Formation Of Hcn+ In Heterogeneous Surface Reactions

Mass spectrometric studies of ion-surface collisions between low-energy (20-100 eV) ions of N-2(+), N+ [1] and NH+ and hydrocarbon-covered room-temperature and heated surfaces of tungsten, carbon-fiber-composite, and beryllium showed significant increase of the ion yield at m/z 27 that was not observed in analogous collisions of Ar+. This increase is ascribed to formation of HCN+ in heterogeneous reactions between the nitrogen-containing projectile ions and the surface hydrocarbons.