Metal oxide cluster ions, MnOm +/- (M = Zn, Cd) and HgnOm- of various stoichiometry have been generated from solid IIB-VIA semiconductor oxides targets, (ZnO(s), CdO(s), and HgO(s)) by using pulse laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry with a laser of lambda = 355 nm. Analysis of mass spectral data indicates the formation of stoichiometric cluster ions viz., (ZnO)(n= 1-30)(+) and (CdO)(n= 1-40)(+) along with -O bound anions, (ZnO)(n=1-30)O-, (CdO)(n=1-40)O- and (HgO)(n=1-36)O- from their respective solids. Further, metal oxoanions such as ZnOn= 2,3-, CdOn= 2,3,6-, and HgOn=2,3,6,7- have also been noted signifying the higher coordination ability of both Cd and Hg with O/O-2/O-3 species. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.