title: Electrochemical processes in a wire-in-a-capillary bulk-loaded, nano-electrospray emitter.
abstract: Experiments are described that illustrate solvent oxidation, emitter electrode corrosion, and analyte oxidation in positive ion mode nano-electrospray mass spectrometry using a wire-in-a-capillary, bulk-loaded nano-electrospray emitter geometry. Time-lapsed color photography of pH and metal specific indicator solutions within operating nano-electrospray emitters, as well as temporal changes in the ions observed in the nano-electrospray mass spectra, are used to probe these reactions, judge their magnitude, and study the time dependent changes in solution composition and gas-phase ion signal brought about as a result of these electrochemical reactions. The significance of these observations for analytical applications of nano-electrospray mass spectrometry are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37831-6365, USA. vanberkelgj@ornl.gov
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Van Berkel
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Schnier