Studies in cluster ion formation. Part II. Concentration and matrix effects on the cluster ions of tetraalkylammonium halide salts

Abstract The roles of the matrix and salt concentration on the formation of cluster ions during fast atom bombardment of tetraalkylammonium halide salts have been studied. The occurrence of anomalous ion intensity regions at certain cluster numbers (n) is found to depend strongly on the salt concentration in the matrix. In addition the time‐dependent nature of the spectra is examined and cluster ion formation is explained by postulating that equilibrium processes occur during bombardment of the salt solution.