Distance-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: A New Paradigm for Mass Separation and Detection
Distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) offers the advantages of physical separation of ions, array-detection of ions, focusing of initial ion energy, great simplicity, and truly unlimited mass range. DOFMS instrumentation is similar to that of time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) and shares its ion source versatility, batch analysis, and rapid spectral generation rate. With constant-momentum ion acceleration and an ion mirror, there is a time at which ions of all m/z values are energy-focused at their particular distance along the flight path. A pulsed field orthogonal to the flight path drives the ions to reach the detector array at this specific time. Results from a 0.31-m proof-of-principle instrument verify the theoretically predicted energy focus and demonstrate how the range of m/z values impinging on the detector array can be readily changed. DOFMS can potentially be combined sequentially with TOFMS to enable simultaneous scanless MS/MS.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1054432
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-82853
- Journal Information:
- Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry, 5(5):487-504, Journal Name: Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry, 5(5):487-504
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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