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Published on: September 5, 2014
Temperature-Tuning Desorption Ionization for Ambient Mass Spectrometry
Ningxi Li1, Zhijun Cai1, Zhongyao Zhang1
1State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Abstract:
In the past decade, mass spectrometry (MS) has been widely used for a broad range of on-site applications. This is largely attributed to the rapid advancement of technologies, such as ambient ionization and mass spectrometer miniaturization. Here, we report the development of the temperature-tuning desorption ionization (TTDI) method for versatile on-site applications using a miniature MS system. A unique feature of TTDI is its dynamic temperature range applicable from 30 to 800 °C, which enables optimal desorption ionization applied for chemical and biological compounds through tuning the temperature at the sampling spot. The versatility of TTDI has been demonstrated through on-site MS analysis of a variety of samples, such as explosives on surfaces, drugs of abuse in biofluids, and screening biomarkers in tissues.
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