Abstract: A system and method of preparing a target surface with an analyte sample is provided. A target preparation device includes a housing having a cavity. A target is positioned in the cavity of the housing. An exemplary method includes introducing an analyte solution into the cavity of the housing such that the analyte solution is in contact with the target surface and delivering a drying gas into the cavity to evaporate the solvent of the analyte solution and to deposit the analyte onto the target surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a novel system and method for evaporating and ionizing compounds comprising an LIAD source and an ionization source that operates at atmospheric pressure. This system is readily adaptable for use with most commercially available mass spectrometers. Ionization sources include Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization sources (APCI) and Atmospheric Pressure Photo Ionization (APPI) sources. The ionization sources are positioned such that the analyte desorbing from the surface of the LIAD is fed into the ion stream produced by the ionization source and ionized analyte and ionized fragments of the analyte are fed into the sample inlet of a mass spectrometer. These systems allow for the mass spectrometric analysis of non-polar compounds that lack readily ionizable functional groups, such as saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons and compounds with medium to low polarity, as well as hydrocarbon mixtures, such as petroleum.