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High-frequency AC electrospray ionization source for mass spectrometry of biomolecules

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Abstract

A novel high-frequency alternating current (AC) electrospray ionization (ESI) source has been developed for applications in mass spectrometry. The AC ESI source operates in a conical meniscus mode, analogous to the cone-jet mode of direct current (DC) electrosprays but with significant physical and mechanistic differences. In this stable conical-meniscus mode at frequencies greater than 50 kHz, the low mobility ions, which can either be cations or anions, are entrained within the liquid cone and ejected as droplets that eventually form molecular ions, thus making AC ESI a viable tool for both negative and positive mode mass spectrometry. The performance of the AC ESI source is qualitatively shown to be frequency-dependent and, for larger bio-molecules, the AC ESI source produced an ion signal intensity that is an order of magnitude higher than its DC counterpart.

Keywords

Alternate Current Charged Droplet Base Oligonucleotide Alternate Current Field Alternate Current Signal 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of Notre DameNotre DameUSA
  2. 2.Department of Aerospace and BiochemistryUniversity of Notre DameNotre DameUSA
  3. 3.Department of Aerospace and Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Notre DameNotre DameUSA

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