Graphite-coated nanoelectrospray emitter for mass spectrometry.
A new, more rapid method for coating nanoelectrospray emitters with graphite is to use a vacuum deposition chamber and a graphite carbon electrode. This method allows for mass production of nanoelectrospray emitters in a short period of time. The emitters are laser-pulled borosilicate glass micropipets and have tapers of around 4 microm i.d. The conductive coating applied to the emitter is only 20-30 nm thick, allowing for optical transparency with the borosilicate emitters. The conductive coating is stable for a number of hours at the high voltages used for nanoelectrospray ionization and is durable in both positive and negative ion modes-even during electrical discharge. This stability will make it possible to couple these emitters with online separations such as capillary liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis.
Smith
Douglas R
DR
Department of Chemistry, Natural Sciences Complex, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260-3000, USA.
Wood
Troy D
TD
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004566:Electrodes; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D006108:Graphite