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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Characterization of Synthetic Polymers via Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 10, 2018
Desorption electrospray ionization and electrosonic spray ionization for solid- and solution-phase analysis of
Marcela Nefliu1, Andre Venter, R Graham Cooks
1Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2084, USA.
Two new ionization techniques, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI), were used to determine polymer molecular weights in both solid and solution phases.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Polymer Science
- Mass Spectrometry
Background:
- Characterizing polymer molecular weight is crucial for understanding material properties.
- Traditional methods for analyzing solid-phase polymers can be complex and time-consuming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI) for polymer analysis.
- To compare the measurement of average molecular weights and molecular weight distributions for solid-phase and solution-phase polymer samples using these techniques.
Main Methods:
- Utilized desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) for analyzing solid-phase polymer samples.
- Employed electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI) for analyzing solution-phase polymer samples.
- Measured average molecular weights and molecular weight distributions for identical polymer samples in both phases.
Main Results:
- Both DESI and ESSI successfully measured average molecular weights and molecular weight distributions for polymers.
- The study demonstrated the capability of these techniques to analyze polymers directly from the solid phase.
- Comparable results were obtained for solid-phase and solution-phase analyses, validating the methods.
Conclusions:
- DESI and ESSI are effective techniques for determining polymer molecular weights and distributions.
- These methods offer a versatile approach for analyzing polymers in both solid and solution states.
- The direct analysis of solid-phase polymers provides a valuable alternative to traditional solution-based methods.
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