Effective methods for the measurement of CsI cluster ions using MALDI-MS with suitable solvent combinations and additives.
A method to measure CsI cluster ions ((CsI)(n)Cs(+), (CsI)(n)I(-)) from CsI samples in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) was developed with a 2-[(2E)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylprop-2-enylidene] malononitrile (DCTB) matrix and additives. Solvent combinations in which the CsI and DCTB solutions were miscible were effective in detecting CsI cluster ions at a mass range of over m/z 2000 and are associated with a characteristic spread of DCTB within the CsI/DCTB mixture. The addition of saccharides or sugar alcohols to the CsI/DCTB mixture improved the DCTB distribution and widened the mass distribution of CsI cluster ions up to m/z 10,000 in the linear mode.
Instrumental Analysis Group, Technical Division, School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-11, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan.
Shunsuke
S
Mochizuki
CsI cluster ion; DCTB; MALDI mass spectrometry; saccharide; solvent