Sarah Trimpin | Authors

A newly discovered method, matrix-assisted ionization (MAI), is described for generating gas-phase ions from volatile and nonvolatile compounds. The method is both simple and sensitive.

Ionization of small, large, volatile, and nonvolatile compounds with charge states nearly identical to electrospray ionization are produced from a solid matrix or solution with high sensitivity utilizing the vacuum inherent with any mass spectrometer. With the proper matrix, analytes can be analyzed from ambient conditions or by direct introduction into vacuum.