A strategy to avoid the use of matrices in mass spectrometry

What is it about?

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique. One of its main drawback is that it requires the use of peculiar molecules to increase the amount of signal generated. But these molecules might interfeere with the anlyte to be detected.Here we propose a strategy to avoid the use of these molecules.

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Why is it important?

We propose the use of fluorinated surfaces to create a universal matrix-free substrates for mass spectrometry (MS). We noticed that the presence of fluorine species greatly increases the yield of MS signal (and, in the past, it had been proably confused with a roel by silicon nanostructures). Several type different classes of molecuels have bene desorbed/ionized from the fluorinated substrates. Our apporach increase the possible use of MS, particularly in the low mass region of the spectra. To note that surface fluorination is a simple reaction that can be done on many differetn materials (silicon, silica, aluminum, etc).

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