Elemental Sulfur as a Versatile Low-Mass-Range Calibration Standard for Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry

摘要

Facile generation of series of singly charged radical anions (Sn n-; n = 1–15) and cations (Snn+; n = 2–11) by direct laser ionization renders elemental sulfur an excellent material for the low-mass-region calibration of time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometers. Upon irradiation by a 337-nm UV laser, elemental sulfur undergoes facile ionization without the need of an additional laser-absorbing matrix. An intense and evenly spaced set of peaks is obtained in both modes.