Influence of support materials on carbon clusters formation from fullerene C 60 and TOF parameters

In the present paper the effect of different fullerene C60 substrates on the production of positive and negative ions has been examined. The ions were produced by the laser desorption/ionization method (LDI). All measurements were carried out using a linear time of flight mass spectrometer (TOF). Usually stainless steel is a substrate for the tested samples. Silver was also examined. In some cases dielectrics are used as sample substrates. In this work insulating substrates such as mica, glass and floppy disc foil were used. The influence of these different materials on the positive and negative ions mass spectra was observed. During the experiment, the electric charging of dielectric substrates affects the spectrometer: ion time of flight and distribution of potentials inside the ion source.