Carbon clusters from coal‐derived materials

The production of carbon clusters (but not fullerenes) from coal‐derived material by the use of laser desorption mass spectrometry is described. Benzo(e)pyrene, a standard polynuclear hydrocarbon found in coal tars, also gave carbon clusters despite using low laser power to avoid pyrolysis of target molecules. Positive‐ and negative‐ion spectra of the standard included carbon clusters. These clusters are formed by the laser energy and can be confused with aromatic hydrocarbons of the same nominal masses. They have no relevance for studies of coal structure.