Collision-induced Coulomb fragmentation in mass-selected (Co2)n2+clusters

Using the supersonic expansion technique in conjunction with a double-focusing mass spectrometer, Coulomb explosion in mass-selected (${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ ${)}_{\mathit{n}}^{2+}$ clusters has been promoted through collisions with a background gas. Extensive fragmentation to a range of different-sized singly charged clusters is observed. However, the kinetic-energy release associated with fragmentation is less than that predicted from an estimate of the Coulomb repulsion energy.