SAMPLE PLATES FOR SURFACE ASSISTED LASER DESORPTION IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY

摘要

The present invention provides sample plates for surface enhanced laser desorption ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry having sample surfaces formed from weathering steel. In particular, plates of cut and polished weathering steel sheets can be employed as sample plates for the sensitive analysis of a wide range of analytes by surface enhanced laser desorption mass spectrometry. Weathering steels are low-alloy steels that are protected against corrosion through the formation of a nanostructured iron oxide and/or hydroxide mesh or other nanostructure. Weathering steel is commercially available, of comparatively low cost and, for the present uses and methods, shows good stability with respect to storage, low cost of production and low levels of background ions.