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Molecular Ionization from Carbon Nanotube Paper
Author(s) -
Narayanan Rahul,
Sarkar Depanjan,
Cooks R. Graham,
Pradeep Thalappil
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201311053
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , ionization , raman spectroscopy , materials science , electric field , fragmentation (computing) , ion , nanotube , nanoscopic scale , field desorption , ion source , spectral line , nanotechnology , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , optics , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , astronomy , computer science , operating system
Ambient ionization is achieved by spraying from a carbon nanotube (CNT)‐impregnated paper surface under the influence of small voltages (≥3 V). Organic molecules give simple high‐quality mass spectra without fragmentation in the positive or negative ion modes. Conventional field ionization is ruled out, and it appears that field emission of microdroplets occurs. Microscopic examination of the CNT paper confirms that the nanoscale features at the paper surface are responsible for the high electric fields. Raman spectra imply substantial current flows in the nanotubes. The performance of this analytical method was demonstrated for a range of volatile and nonvolatile compounds and a variety of matrices.