Laser ablation synthesis of phosphorus sulphides, selenides and ternary PpSqSer clusters from various precursors

Laser ablation (LA) synthesis with simultaneous time-of-flight mass spectrometric (TOF MS) analysis was used to examine the formation and composition of ternary PpSqSer clusters. Clusters formed by LA of various precursors are singular, binary and ternary. Formation of negative or positive singly charged P-p, S-q and Se-r clusters, where P-p(+) (p = 1-249), P-p(-) (p = 1-191), S-q(-) (q = 1-15), S-q(+) (q = 1-12), Se-r(-) (r = 1-8) and Se-r(+) (r = 1-9), was identified. High numbers of binary PpSq, SqSer (35) or ternary PpSqSer (138) clusters were formed by LA synthesis from the various mixtures. Most of the ternary PpSqSer clusters were formed either from a mixture of P4S3 with selenium (grey) or from a mixture of SeS2 with red phosphorus. In total, 138 new ternary PpSqSer clusters were identified. The conditions for the formation of such possible prospective nano-materials are given. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.