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Ion mobility spectrometry coupled to laser-induced fluorescence
Vladimir Frankevich1, Pablo Martinez-Lozano Sinues, Konstantin Barylyuk
1Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Analytical Chemistry
|December 4, 2012
Summary
We combined a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to analyze gas-phase ions. This novel method allows detailed study of ion mobility and fluorescence, even for fragile clusters.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Traditional methods struggle to analyze complex gas-phase ion mixtures.
- Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is sensitive but requires specific ion selection.
- Differential mobility analyzers (DMA) separate ions by mobility but lack detailed spectral information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a robust method for simultaneous measurement of ion electrical mobility and fluorescence spectra.
- To enable the study of gas-phase ions, including clusters, that are too fragile for mass spectrometry.
- To investigate the gas-phase fluorescence of mobility-selected rhodamine 6G ions.
Main Methods:
- Interfacing a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy.
- Utilizing DMA's spatial ion separation to continuously select ion beams of specific mobilities.
- Analyzing the selected ion beams with LIF to obtain fluorescence spectroscopy data.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated the simultaneous retrieval of two-dimensional information on electrical mobility and fluorescence.
- Showcased the ability to detect fluorescence from specified ions, including clusters, not surviving mass spectrometry.
- Reported on the gas-phase laser-induced fluorescence of mobility-selected rhodamine 6G ions.
Conclusions:
- The combination of DMA and LIF is a simple, robust, and powerful technique for analyzing gas-phase ions.
- This instrument combination allows for the separation and detailed study of complex fluorescent mixtures.
- The platform holds significant potential for probing fluorescent molecules and proteins in the gas phase.
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