Laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer detection of methyl radical produced by ion–molecule reactions in a flowing-afterglow apparatus

Laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer detection is coupled with a flowing-afterglow instrument for the first time to detect the methyl radical, CH3, produced from the gas phase reactions of CO+ with CH4 and N2O+ with CH4. Single-photon ionization at 118 nm (10.5 eV) permits a new means of detection for the neutral radical products of gas-phase ion–molecule reactions.