Accession Number:

ADA183681

Title:

Fast-Atom Bombardment of Molten Boron Trioxide,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Doyle,Robert J. , Jr

Report Date:

1987-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

5.0

Abstract:

Fast-atom bombardment mass spectra of vitreous boron trioxide B2O3 has been obtained at sample temperatures below and above the melting point of B2O3 450 C. The experiments utilized a new high-temperature sample holder that has been described in detail elsewhere 1. Spectra were obtained over a sample temperature range of 150-700 C. Boron trioxide is thermally stable over this temperature range and its low vapor pressure and high viscosity assure a long lived sample and a consistent surface geometry. The technique enabled the first observation of high-molecular-weight, gas-phase boron oxides see figure. Collision-induced dissociation of the boron oxide ions revealed structures composed of branched chains of alternating boron and oxygen atoms terminated by -BO bonds. This observation is consistent with the structure of condensed-phase B2O3, which is composed of infinite chains of BO3 units linked by -B-O-B- bonds.

Descriptors:

• *BORON OXIDES
• BORON
• IONS
• CONSISTENCY
• GEOMETRY
• SURFACE PROPERTIES
• HIGH VISCOSITY
• LOW PRESSURE
• VAPOR PRESSURE
• HIGH TEMPERATURE
• RANGE(EXTREMES)
• TEMPERATURE
• MOLECULAR WEIGHT
• OBSERVATION
• CHAINS
• MELTS
• OXIDES
• ATOMS
• OXYGEN

Subject Categories:

• Physical Chemistry

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE