How constant momentum acceleration decouples energy and space focusing in distance-of-flight and time-of-flight mass spectrometries

RECENT ADVANCES IN INSTRUMENTAL APPROACHES TO TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETRY

Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) is one of the simplest and most powerful approaches for mass spectrometry. Realization of the advantages inherent in TOFMS requires innovation in the theory and practice of the technique. Instrumental developments, in turn, create new capabilities that enable applications in chemical measurement. This review focuses on the recent advances in TOFMS instrumentation. New strategies for ion acceleration, multiplexed detection, miniaturized TOFMS instruments, approaches to extend the length of ion flight, and novel ion detection technologies are reviewed. Techniques that change the basic paradigm of TOFMS by measuring m/z based on ion flight distance are considered, as are applications at the frontiers of instrumental performance. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Mass Spec Rev.

Improved detection sensitivity of elements in solids via laser postionization in laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A newly constructed laser desorption (532 nm, 5 ns) and laser postionization (266 nm, 5 ns) time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LD-LPI-TOFMS) has been applied for improving the detection sensitivity of elements in solid samples. This method affords to acquire the information of the elemental impurities in solid standards as well as limit of detection (LOD) down to 10^-8  g/g for some elements. Neutral atoms of solids are generated by low-irradiance laser desorption (< 10⁸  W/cm² ), followed by high-irradiance laser postionization (~ 10⁹  W/cm² ) of the desorbed atoms, facilitating to decouple the desorption and ionization processes in spatial and temporal domain. This non-interacting feature overcomes the discrimination between deteriorating spectral resolution at high irradiance (10⁹ -10¹¹  W/cm² ) and limited detectable elemental species and high LOD at low or medium irradiance (below 10⁹  W/cm² ). The utilization of originally "wasted" neutral atoms by laser postionization will help improve atom utilization and instrumental sensitivity. In this work, getting the utmost out of the consumed neutral atoms instead of an increment in sampling amounts is given attention with high priority for achieving high sensitivity and low LOD, which is especially useful on the occasions where very low sample consumption is desired.

Impact of uneven sample morphology on mass resolving power in linear MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry: A comprehensive theoretical investigation

This work discusses the correlation between the mass resolving power of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass analyzers and extraction condition with an uneven sample morphology. Previous theoretical calculations show that the optimum extraction condition for flat samples involves an ideal ion source design and extraction delay. A general expression of spectral feature takes into account ion initial velocity, and extraction delay is derived in the current study. The new expression extends the comprehensive calculation to uneven sample surfaces and above 90% Maxell-Boltzmann initial velocity distribution of ions to account for imperfect ionization condition. Calculation shows that the impact of uneven sample surface or initial spatial spread of ions is negligible when the extraction delay is away from the ideal value. When the extraction delay approaches the optimum value, the flight-time topology shows a characteristic curve shape, and the time-domain mass spectral feature broadens with an increase in initial spatial spread of ions. For protonated 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, the mass resolving power obtained from a sample of 3-μm surface roughness is approximately 3.3 times lower than that of flat samples. For ions of m/z 3000 coexpanded with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, the mass resolving power in the 3-μm surface roughness case only reduces roughly 7%. Comprehensive calculations also show that the mass resolving power of lighter ions is more sensitive to the accuracy of the extraction delay than heavier ions.

Distance-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: What, Why, and How?

Distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) separates ions of different mass-to-charge (m/z) by the distance they travel in a given time after acceleration. Like time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS), separation and mass assignment are based on ion velocity. However, DOFMS is not a variant of TOFMS; different methods of ion focusing and detection are used. In DOFMS, ions are driven orthogonally, at the detection time, onto an array of detectors parallel to the flight path. Through the independent detection of each m/z, DOFMS can provide both wider dynamic range and increased throughput for m/z of interest compared with conventional TOFMS. The iso-mass focusing and detection of ions is achieved by constant-momentum acceleration (CMA) and a linear-field ion mirror. Improved energy focus (including turn-around) is achieved in DOFMS, but the initial spatial dispersion of ions remains unchanged upon detection. Therefore, the point-source nature of surface ionization techniques could put them at an advantage for DOFMS. To date, three types of position-sensitive detectors have been used for DOFMS: a microchannel plate with a phosphorescent screen, a focal plane camera, and an IonCCD array; advances in detector technology will likely improve DOFMS figures-of-merit. In addition, the combination of CMA with TOF detection has provided improved resolution and duty factor over a narrow m/z range (compared with conventional, single-pass TOFMS). The unique characteristics of DOFMS can enable the intact collection of large biomolecules, clusters, and organisms. DOFMS might also play a key role in achieving the long-sought goal of simultaneous MS/MS. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

In pursuit of resolution in time-of-flight mass spectrometry: A historical perspective

Time-of-flight mass spectrometry is reviewed from its inception in the 1940s to the present day. The review is concerned with fundamentals of time-of-flight analyzers and of ion sources to the extent that sources influence analyzers. The patent literature has been covered, and efforts made to bring to light less well-known papers and studies © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev. 35:738-757, 2016.

Distance-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry with IonCCD Detection and an Inductively Coupled Plasma Source

Distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) is demonstrated for the first time with a commercially available ion detector-the IonCCD camera. Because DOFMS is a velocity-based MS technique that provides spatially dispersive, simultaneous mass spectrometry, a position-sensitive ion detector is needed for mass-spectral collection. The IonCCD camera is a 5.1-cm long, 1-D array that is capable of simultaneous, multichannel ion detection along a focal plane, which makes it an attractive option for DOFMS. In the current study, the IonCCD camera is evaluated for DOFMS with an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ionization source over a relatively short field-free mass-separation distance of 25.3-30.4 cm. The combination of ICP-DOFMS and the IonCCD detector results in a mass-spectral resolving power (FWHM) of approximately 900 and isotope-ratio precision equivalent to or slightly better than current ICP-TOFMS systems. The measured isotope-ratio precision in % relative standard deviation (%RSD) was ≥0.008%RSD for nonconsecutive isotopes at 10-ppm concentration (near the ion-signal saturation point) and ≥0.02%RSD for all isotopes at 1-ppm. Results of DOFMS with the IonCCD camera are also compared with those of two previously characterized detection setups.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Zoom-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

A zoom-time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been coupled to an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ionization source. Zoom-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (zoom-TOFMS) combines two complementary types of velocity-based mass separation. Specifically, zoom-TOFMS alternates between conventional, constant-energy acceleration (CEA) TOFMS and energy-focused, constant-momentum acceleration (CMA) (zoom) TOFMS. The CMA mode provides a mass-resolution enhancement of 1.5-1.7× over CEA-TOFMS in the current, 35-cm ICP-zoom-TOFMS instrument geometry. The maximum resolving power (full-width at half-maximum) for the ICP-zoom-TOFMS instrument is 1200 for CEA-TOFMS and 1900 for CMA-TOFMS. The CMA mode yields detection limits of between 0.02 and 0.8 ppt, depending upon the repetition rate and integration time-compared with single ppt detection limits for CEA-TOFMS. Isotope-ratio precision is shot-noise limited at approximately 0.2% relative-standard deviation (RSD) for both CEA- and CMA-TOFMS at a 10 kHz repetition rate and an integration time of 3-5 min. When the repetition rate is increased to 43.5 kHz for CMA, the shot-noise limited, zoom-mode isotope-ratio precision is improved to 0.09% RSD for the same integration time.

Coupled Space- and Velocity-Focusing in Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry-a Comprehensive Theoretical Investigation

A comprehensive theoretical calculation that couples space- and velocity-focusing is developed for optimizing the design of a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. Conventional designs for ion sources of TOF mass spectrometers deviate from the optimal condition because the velocity- and space-focusing conditions are considered separately for two ions with simplified equations. The result of a reexamination taking into account all essential ions reveals that the conventional ion source design, especially the length of the ion extraction region, results in poor resolving power. The comprehensive calculation demonstrates that the resolving power increases when the length of the extraction region is shorter than that of the conventional ion source. A numerical analysis indicates that the resolving power dramatically increases when the effective extraction potential compensates for the initial kinetic energy spread of ions. With typically used extraction potentials, the newly optimized ion source improves the resolving power by more than two orders of magnitude compared with the conventional design. This new theoretical interpretation can also be used to predict the optimal extraction potential and extraction delay in conventional ion sources to substantially improve the resolving power. This comprehensive calculation method is effective not only for designing new high-resolution instruments but also for optimizing commercial products.

Constant-momentum acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry with energy focusing

Fundamental aspects of constant-momentum acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CMA-TOFMS) are explored as a means to improve mass resolution. By accelerating all ions to the same momentum rather than to the same energy, the effects of the initial ion spatial and energy distributions upon the total ion flight time are decoupled. This decoupling permits the initial spatial distribution of ions in the acceleration region to be optimized independently, and energy focus, including ion turn-around-time error, to be accomplished with a linear-field reflectron. Constant-momentum acceleration also linearly disperses ions across time according to mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio, instead of the quadratic relationship between flight time and m/z found in conventional TOFMS. Here, CMA-TOFMS is shown to achieve simultaneous spatial and energy focusing over a selected portion of the mass spectrum. An orthogonal-acceleration time-of-flight system outfitted with a reduced-pressure DC glow discharge (GD) ionization source is used to demonstrate CMA-TOFMS with atomic ions. The influence of experimental parameters such as the amplitude and width of the time-dependent CMA pulse on mass resolution is investigated, and a useful CMA-TOFMS focusing window of 2 to 18 Da is found for GD-CMA-TOFMS.