Evaluating the Translational Temperature of Molecules Laser-desorbed after Online Concentration Using Multiphoton Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Abstract

We describe a new technique for evaluating the translational temperature of molecules by applying online concentration via analyte adsorption/laser desorption, which is a sample-introduction technique for resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (REMPI-TOFMS). In the present study, analyte molecules were adsorbed via a narrowed capillary tip once, and then the flow of the carrier gas containing the analyte was stopped. After laser desorption, the ion signals induced by REMPI were monitored. Finally, the translational temperature could be calculated from the velocity distribution of the desorbed molecules by applying a Maxwell distribution.