Desorption/ionization mass spectrometry on array of silicon micro tips

Abstract

We have shown that a sample of bio-species deposited onto the spot of the array of protruded metal gated silicon tips (DIOST) may be effectively ionized and evaporated by UV laser pulsed light illumination. This phenomenon has been never observed on flat surface of silicon dioxide or TiW-Au thin film layers the materials which were used in construction of the tips array. Nature of this process is not known; the most intriguing fact is the protonization as well as negative electron ionization of bio-samples. The new DIOST platform was used for TOF MS tests, and clearly readable, low-noised mass spectrograms of LGG and dopamine were observed.