The gas phase reaction of aluminum plasma and ethanol clusters has been studied by laser ablation-molecular beam (LAMB) method with a linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A small reaction cell was introduced to the ion-cluster reaction pathway, which can increase the reaction effectively. The metal complex cluster ions Al⁺(C₂H₅OH)_n (n=3～10) were produced when the Al plasma reacted with the front part of the molecular beam; the protonated ethanol cluster ions H⁺(C₂H₅OH)_n (n=1～14) and hydrated cluster ions (C₂H₅OH)_n(H₂O)OH^- (n=0～8) formed mainly when the Al plasma reacted with the middle and back parts of the molecular beam.

Key words: laser ablation, molecular beam, ion-cluster reaction, time-of-flight mass spectrum