Role of electronegativity in the qualitative inference of the TOF-SIMS fragment pattern of inorganic compounds.

The role of the electronegativity of atoms in inorganic compounds in TOF-SIMS fragmentation is discussed. From a study of approximately 30 inorganic compounds--chlorides, oxides, nitrates, and sulfates--a simple rule has been proposed for the dependence of fragment pattern appearance on the electronegativity (electron affinity), which can be easily obtained from handbooks, and the valence of positive and negative ions in these compounds. TOF-SIMS measurements of metal and alloy surfaces, should be corrected for the ionization potentials and/or electronegativities of atoms present in surface contaminants.