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McLean Research Group Laboratory for Structural Mass Spectrometry

MALDI-ESI Drift Tube IM-MS

We have developed a reduced pressure, drift-time ion mobility mass spectrometer (DTIM-MS). The ionization source, which is able to support both MALDI and ESI, is interfaced directly to the drift cell. In the drift cell the analyte undegoes collisions with helium gas at approximately 3-10 Torr. The sample is then pulsed into a reflectron o-TOF mass spectrometer, resulting in two-dimensional (i.e.mobility versus m/z) spectra.

 

The McLean Research Group’s MALDI/ESI drift tube ion mobility-mass spectrometer (initial design by Ionwerks).

 

Below is a schematic for the instrument we use at Vanderbilt.

IM-MS schematic