Electrospray ionization with aluminum foil: A versatile mass spectrometric technique

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Electrospray ionization (ESI) is a crucial technique in mass spectrometry.
• Existing ESI methods can be complex and require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, economical, and versatile electrospray ionization (ESI) technique.
• To demonstrate the applicability of aluminum foil (Al foil) in ESI for diverse sample analyses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized household aluminum foil (Al foil) as a substrate for electrospray ionization.
• Configured Al foil for effective ionization, sample holding, and on-target extraction/cleanup.
• Investigated Al foil's thermal properties for monitoring reactions.

Main Results:

• Al foil ESI demonstrated durable ion signals for various sample types (pure compounds, complex mixtures, solids, liquids).
• Enabled on-target extraction and cleanup of solid samples, removing salts and detergents.
• Facilitated direct monitoring of thermal reactions like protein denaturation.

Conclusions:

• Al-foil ESI is an economical and versatile analytical method.
• The technique broadens the capabilities of ESI devices to include sample processing.
• Offers a simplified approach for analyzing a wide range of chemical and biological samples.