Microprobe speciation analysis of inorganic solids by fourier transform laser mass spectrometry.

Fourier transform (FT) laser microprobe mass spectrometry (LMMS) aims at the characterization of local constituents at the surface of solids. Signals from structural fragments specify the main building blocks of the analyte while adduct ions, consisting of one or two intact analyte molecules and a stable ion, allow specific identification of the molecule. A series of inorganic reference compounds including binary salts, oxides, and oxy salts was analyzed to assess the FT LMMS capabilities for the determination of the inorganic molecular composition. Compounds from different classes can be tentatively identified by deductive reasoning while those with the same elements in different stoichiometries require comparison with reference spectra.