Journal Article
Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry, vol. 5, iss. 1, pp. 487-504, 2012
Authors
Christie G. Enke, Steven J. Ray, Alexander W. Graham, Elise A. Dennis, Gary M. Hieftje, Anthony J. Carado, Charles J. Barinaga, David W. Koppenaal
Abstract
Distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) offers the advantages of physical separation of ions, array detection of ions, focusing of initial ion energy, great simplicity, and a truly unlimited mass range. DOFMS instrumentation is similar to that of time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) and shares its ion-source versatility, batch analysis, and rapid spectral-generation rate. With constant-momentum ion acceleration and an ion mirror, there is a time at which ions of all mass-to-charge values are energy focused at their particular distances along the flight path. A pulsed field orthogonal to the flight path drives the ions to reach the detector array at this specific time. Results from a 0.29-m proof-of-principle instrument verify the theoretically predicted energy focus and demonstrate how the range of mass-to-charge values that impinge on the detector array can be readily changed. DOFMS could be combined sequentially with TOFMS to enable simultaneous scanless tandem mass spectrometry.
