Laser-induced electron transfer desorption/ionization of metal complexes on TiO2 films

Thin titanium dioxide (TiO2) films were studied as ion emitters for the laser-induced electron transfer desorption/ionization (LETDI) of metal complexes with organic reagents. The TiO2 films (350 nm thick) were deposited on the silicon substrates by e-beam evaporation of TiO2 powder. Copper complex with phthalocyanine, rhenium complex with thiocarbanilide and platinum complex with 8-quinolinethiol were studied as the test analytes. Reflectron time-offlight mass spectrometer with the rotating ball interface was used for analysis. The analytes were applied on the surface of TiO2 film using an electrospray deposition. All tested compounds are detected as the radical molecular ions with no fragmentation. It is found, that TiO2 films are very stable and show good sensitivity in examined range of the analyte concentrations. The limits of detection of studied complexes were at the subfemtomole range, and the relative standard deviation was less than 10%.