Carbon nanocoatings: A new approach to recording mass spectra of low-molecular compounds using surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid approach to obtaining target plates for the investigation of low-molecularweight compounds by surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) mass spectrometry is proposed. It consists in the vacuum sputtering of a carbon layer with a thickness of about 50 nm onto a metal surface. The resulting coatings are characterized by homogeneity, hydrophobicity, and high mechanical strength, which eliminates a possibility of mass spectrometer contamination. A comparison of the SALDI mass spectra of test compounds recorded using conventional carbon materials and carbon nanocoatings demonstrates advantages of the last named materials, such as high spectral resolution and the absence of spectral interferences at low m/z values.