Reply to the comment on 'Te<inf>n</inf> S<inf>4</inf>⁺ (n = 1-4) clusters in the gas phase' by Z. Å palt, M. Alberti, and J. Havel

Recently we reported the existence of TeS clusters, Ten S4+ (n = 1-4) in the gas phase. The ions were detected in the laser desorption mass spectrum of bulk TeS powder. Špalt et al. have commented that there was ambiguity in that assignment and suggested that the peaks reported by us are due to Te clusters and not due to TeS clusters. Here in this reply, we show that there are unique features for the TenS4 clusters which are manifested in the mass spectra, although most of the intense peaks do overlap with the Ten clusters at the instrumental resolution investigated. The presence of Te S4+ can be confirmed on the basis of its unique features. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.