Mass spectrometric and quantum chemical studies of geological fluids

Abstract

A binary mixture of copper (II) chloride and gold (III) chloride solutions were introduced into a FT-ICR Mass Spectrometer through electrospray ionization techniques to produce ion clusters in the gaseous state. A series of families of ion clusters were detected across a range of different concentrations and they were identified as heterometallic mono-cationic clusters with possible hydrated and ligated species present as well.

Ab initio calculations on the first member of the family of hetero-metallic monocationic species detected in the mass spectra were carried out using density function theory (DFT) methods and correlation consistent (cc) basis sets. Equilibrium bond lengths and vibrational frequencies were computed and resulting values compared with published literature values.