Abstract: An atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray source apparatus. The apparatus has a cooler having a surface with a sharp point. The cooler generates a condensate from ambient atmosphere exposed to the cooler. A ground electrode is electrically and mechanically separated from the cooler. A high voltage power supply switchably provides a high voltage between the sharp point of the cooler and the ground electrode. A controller is electrically connected to the cooler power supply and the high voltage power supply. The controller controls the operation of the cooler power supply and the high voltage power supply. The atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray ionizer apparatus generates the condensate and generates particulate spray from the condensate in response to command signals issued from the controller. In some embodiments, an analyzer is provided to analyze particles of the spray to determine the chemical composition of the condensate.

Abstract: A continuous flow mobility classifier provide the ability to perform two-dimensional separation in mass spectrometry. An ionization system is used to ionize a sample. A differential mobility analyzer (DMA) (e.g., a nano-radial DMA) is coupled to the ionization system and to a mass spectrometer. The nano-RDMA is configured to separate the ionized sample by mobility for subsequent mass analysis by the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods directed to a glycan reagent for depolymerization of a glycan having a reducing end, the glycan reagent being represented by the formula MCX, in which M is a glycan coupling group selected from oxylamines and hydrazides; C is a fixed charge group or a basic group having a proton affinity of at least 210 kcal/mol; and X is hydrogen or a free radical initiator chemically coupled to C.

Abstract: A clickable cross-linker compound provides an easily scanned reporter ion for effective and efficient cross-linking and identification of intermolecular and intramolecular interactions of proteins and peptides.

Abstract: An atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray source apparatus. The apparatus has a cooler having a surface with a sharp point. The cooler generates a condensate from ambient atmosphere exposed to the cooler. A ground electrode is electrically and mechanically separated from the cooler. A high voltage power supply switchably provides a high voltage between the sharp point of the cooler and the ground electrode. A controller is electrically connected to the cooler power supply and the high voltage power supply. The controller controls the operation of the cooler power supply and the high voltage power supply. The atmospheric condensate collector and electrospray ionizer apparatus generates the condensate and generates particulate spray from the condensate in response to command signals issued from the controller. In some embodiments, an analyzer is provided to analyze particles of the spray to determine the chemical composition of the condensate.

Abstract: Isobaric reagents for labeling analytes are provided. The isobaric reagents have facile design and synthesis that allows for differential labeling of an unlimited number of analyte samples.

Abstract: A novel ion source for ambient mass spectrometry (switched ferroelectric plasma ionizer or “SwiFerr”), which utilizes the ambient pressure plasma resulting from a sample of barium titanate [001] whose polarization is switched by an audio frequency electric field. High yields of both anions and cations are produced by the source and detected using an ion trap mass spectrometer. Protonated amines and deprotonated volatile acid species, respectively, are detected in the observed mass spectra. Aerodynamic sampling is employed to analyze powders of drug tablets of loperamide and ibuprofen. A peak corresponding to the active pharmaceutical ingredient for each drug is observed in the mass spectra. Pyridine is detected at concentrations in the low part-per-million range in air. The low power consumption of the source is consistent with incorporation into field portable instrumentation for detection of hazardous materials and trace substances in a variety of different applications.

Abstract: A clickable cross-linker compound provides an easily scanned reporter ion for effective and efficient cross-linking and identification of intermolecular and intramolecular interactions of proteins and peptides.

Abstract: Isobaric reagents for labeling analytes are provided. The isobaric reagents have facile design and synthesis that allows for differential labeling of an unlimited number of analyte samples.

Abstract: A continuous flow mobility classifier provide the ability to perform two-dimensional separation in mass spectrometry. An ionization system is used to ionize a sample. A differential mobility analyzer (DMA) (e.g., a nano-radial DMA) is coupled to the ionization system and to a mass spectrometer. The nano-RDMA is configured to separate the ionized sample by mobility for subsequent mass analysis by the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A novel ion source for ambient mass spectrometry (switched ferroelectric plasma ionizer or “SwiFerr”), which utilizes the ambient pressure plasma resulting from a sample of barium titanate [001] whose polarization is switched by an audio frequency electric field. High yields of both anions and cations are produced by the source and detected using an ion trap mass spectrometer. Protonated amines and deprotonated volatile acid species, respectively, are detected in the observed mass spectra. Aerodynamic sampling is employed to analyze powders of drug tablets of loperamide and ibuprofen. A peak corresponding to the active pharmaceutical ingredient for each drug is observed in the mass spectra. Pyridine is detected at concentrations in the low part-per-million range in air. The low power consumption of the source is consistent with incorporation into field portable instrumentation for detection of hazardous materials and trace substances in a variety of different applications.

Abstract: A compact, low power ambient pressure pyroelectric ionization source. The source can be constructed using a z-cut lithium niobate or lithium tantalate crystal with an attached resistive heater mounted in front of the atmospheric pressure inlet of an ion trap mass spectrometer. Positive and negative ion formation alternately results from thermally cycling the crystal over a narrow temperature range. Ionization of molecules such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol or benzoic acid results in the observation of the singly deprotonated species and their clusters in the negative ion mass spectrum. Ionization of molecules such as triethylamine or triphenylamine with the source results in observation of the corresponding singly protonated species of each in the positive ion mass spectrum. The pyroelectric crystals are thermally cycled by as little as 30 K from ambient temperature. Ion formation is largely unaffected by contamination of the crystal faces. This ion source is robust.

Abstract: Biomimetic reagents capable of selectively forming non-covalent complexes and initiating intermolecular reactions with peptides in the gas phase are described. The reagents are particularly useful in gas phase peptides chemistry.

Abstract: A system and methodology for the trace detection of organic explosives is described. The detector system combines a separation system, such as a gas chromatograph to separate the components of an explosive mixture, with a pyrolysis detector. In operation, effluent from the separation system is pyrolyzed and the fragments produced on pyrolysis of the explosive compound are then detected. The small molecule fragments exhibit sharply banded, characteristic spectrum, enabling detection of the explosive materials. The system is tested using the explosive materials nitrobenzene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and with the nitramine explosive tetryl. Detection limits are 25 ng for nitrobenzene, and 50 ng for 2,4-dinitrotoluene. Tetryl is detected with a detection limit of 50 ng.

Abstract: A compact, low power ambient pressure pyroelectric ionization source. The source can be constructed using a z-cut lithium niobate or lithium tantalate crystal with an attached resistive heater mounted in front of the atmospheric pressure inlet of an ion trap mass spectrometer. Positive and negative ion formation alternately results from thermally cycling the crystal over a narrow temperature range. Ionization of molecules such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol or benzoic acid results in the observation of the singly deprotonated species and their clusters in the negative ion mass spectrum. Ionization of molecules such as triethylamine or triphenylamine with the source results in observation of the corresponding singly protonated species of each in the positive ion mass spectrum. The pyroelectric crystals are thermally cycled by as little as 30 K from ambient temperature. Ion formation is largely unaffected by contamination of the crystal faces. This ion source is robust.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for probing the chemistry of a single droplet are provided. The technique uses a variation of the field-induced droplet ionization (FIDI) method, in which isolated droplets undergo heterogeneous reactions between solution phase analytes and gas-phase species. Following a specified reaction time, the application of a high electric field induces FIDI in the droplet, generating fine jets of highly charged progeny droplets that can then be characterized. Sampling over a range of delay times following exposure of the droplet to gas phase reactants, the spectra yield the temporal variation of reactant and product concentrations. Following the initial mass spectrometry studies, we developed an experiment to explore the parameter space associated with FIDI in an attempt to better understand and control the technique.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope is combined with a laser induced breakdown spectrometer to provide spatially resolved chemical analysis of the surface correlated with the surface topography. Topographical analysis is achieved by scanning a sharp probe across the sample at constant distance from the surface. Chemical analysis is achieved by the means of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy by delivering pulsed laser radiation to the sample surface through the same sharp probe, and consequent collection and analysis of emission spectra from plasma generated on the sample by the laser radiation. The method comprises performing microtopographical analysis of the sample with a scanning probe, selecting a scanned topological site on the sample, generating a plasma plume at the selected scanned topological site, and measuring a spectrum of optical emission from the plasma at the selected scanned topological site.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved method and apparatus for analyzing the surface of materials using sub-micron laser desorption gas phase analysis. The method uses a combination of Near-field Optical Microscopy and Time-of Flight Mass Spectroscopy.

Abstract: A capillary for use with an electrospray ion source includes a concentric outer capillary sleeve and inner capillary tube. An outer surface of the tube engages an inner surface of the sleeve. Conductors are formed at respective upstream and downstream ends of the capillary.

Abstract: A thin film of material such as metal is deposited on the surface of a substrate by placing a substrate (22) into a chamber (10) containing holder (12) cooled by heat exchanger 18. A beam (56) of U.V. light from the illumination source (42) is projected through monochromator (43), mask (46) and lens (16) onto a selected area (58) of the substrate at an energy level exceeding the photoemission threshold of the surface. A slow electron (60) is ejected from the surface into the capture zone (62). A compound AB such as iron pentacarbonyl from supply (30) is leaked into the chamber (10), enters the capture zone (60) to form a highly reactive deposition fragment A.sup.- which attaches to the surface and a dissociation fragment which is evacuated through outlet (14). The deposited fragment may further dissociate to form metal deposit.