Letter: Identification of polyborate ions in aqueous solution by electrospray ionisation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to investigate polyborate species in aqueous solution. The mass spectrum of boric acid revealed clusters of polyborate ions. Constituents with up to 19 B atoms were assigned and 15 species and their relationship were investigated in depth with collision-induced fragmentation. Based on the observed fragments, we proposed herein a potential fragmentation pathway for the observed polyborate molecules.