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Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric analysis of surfactants on functionalized carbon nanotubes
Author(s) -
Cegłowski Michał,
Schroeder Grzegorz
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.6448
Subject(s) - chemistry , carbon nanotube , surface modification , ethylene glycol , mass spectrometry , desorption , chemical engineering , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , ionic bonding , organic chemistry , chromatography , adsorption , ion , engineering
RATIONALE Recently, unmodified and carboxylated carbon nanotubes have been used as assisting surfaces laser desorption/ionization (LDI) in mass spectrometry. The functionalization of carbon nanotubes with organic compounds should lead to a gamut of other promising LDI‐assisting surfaces. METHODS Carboxylated carbon nanotubes were functionalized with sinapinic acid either covalently or by creating an ionic macro‐complex. Polyether‐based surfactants were used as analytes to examine the properties of these new matrices. Mass spectrometric analysis was conducted on a LDI‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer. Carbon nanotube surfaces were deposited from suspension using the dried‐droplet method. RESULTS The functionalization of the carbon nanotubes was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The usefulness of each material was examined with two poly(ethylene glycol) hexadecyl ether amphiphiles (Brij® 52 and Brij® 56) and a poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether as analytes. Generally, the mass spectra obtained with carbon nanotubes covalently functionalized with sinapinic acid as a matrix had peaks with higher intensities than those obtained with carbon nanotubes functionalized by ionic macro‐complex formation. CONCLUSIONS The presented new materials based on functionalized carbon nanotubes are effective in the LDI mass analysis of polyether amphiphiles and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether. This type of assisting surfaces can be highly modified by appropriate functionalization procedures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.