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Published on: July 11, 2017
Mass, Size, and Density Measurements of Microparticles in a Quadrupole Ion Trap
Caiqiao Xiong1,2, Huihui Liu1,2, Chaozi Liu1,2
1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 China.
Abstract:
The physical properties of microparticles, such as mass, size, and density, are critical for their functions. The comprehensive characterization of these physical parameters, however, remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we developed a particle mass spectrometry (PMS) methodology for determining the mass, size, and density of microparticles simultaneously. The collisional cross-section (CCS) and mass spectrometry (MS) measurements were performed in a single quadrupole ion trap (QIT), and the two modes can be switched easily by tuning the electric and gas hydrodynamic fields of the QIT. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated through a series of monodispersed polystyrene (PS) and silica (SiO2) particle standards. The SiO2/polypyrrole core-shell particles were also successfully characterized, and the measured results were verified by using conventional methods.
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