Twenty Years of Knudsen Effusion Mass Spectrometry: Studies Performed in the Period 1990-2010

Abstract

Investigations carried out by Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry on metals, alloys, oxides, and fullerene systems in the period 1990-2010 are reviewed in the present paper. 362 original papers were published in this period by ca. 45 research groups thereby showing still large activity in this unique area. The fundamentals and recent developments of the method are briefly reported. Data to the systems studied, temperature ranges, vapour species identified in the equilibrium vapours and thermodynamic properties obtained in the study are reported. Important features of these studies are briefly discussed as well. Most of the vaporization studies by Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry carried out on alloys, oxides and fullerenes aimed at the determination of thermodynamic data of gaseous species and condensed phases. Many of the studied materials are of practical importance for modern technologies. The investigations should give information on thermal stability, volatility under different conditions (temperature, oxygen partial pressure, and gaseous impurities), oxidation resistance, reactivity etc.