Nanoscale silicon surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: environment stability and activation by simple vacuum oven desiccation.
Nanoscale silicon surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) is an emerging matrix-free, highly sensitive MS analysis method. An important challenge in using nanoscale silicon SALDI-MS analysis is the aging and stability of silicon after storage in various environments. No proper nanoscale silicon SALDI-MS activation procedure has been reported to solve this issue. This study investigated the sensitivity, wettability, and surface oxidation behavior of nanoscale silicon surface SALDI-MS in a room, an inert gas atmosphere, and a vacuum environment. A simple vacuum oven desiccation was proposed to activate the SALDI-MS surface, and the limit of detection was further enhanced 1000 times to a 500 attomole level using this approach. The long-term stability and desorption/ionization mechanism were also investigated.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Rd., Taoyuan, Taiwan. cwtsao@ncu.edu.tw.
Chia-Wen
CW
Tsao
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Rd., Taoyuan, Taiwan. cwtsao@ncu.edu.tw.
Yuan-Jing
YJ
Lin
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Pi-Yu
PY
Chen
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Liang
YL
Yang
Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, Australia.
Say Hwa
SH
Tan