Collision and Surface-Induced Dissociation of Singly and Multiply Charged Ions

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The detailed reaction dynamics of ion-molecule interactions forms the focus of the research of this project supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program. Professor Futrell and his coworkers at the University of Delaware utilize crossed molecular beam methods to probe the collision induced dissociation processes relevant to ion activation in analytical mass spectrometry. This unique approach provides information about energy partitioning, fragmentation mechanisms, and energy release which improves the fundamental understanding of mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns. This approach is being extended to high molecular weight, multiply charged ions produced by electrospray ionization, and to the investigation of ion-surface interactions and the process of surface induced dissociation. The use of tandem mass spectrometric methods has provided much structural information about biologically significant compounds, especially with the advent of low energy ionization methods such as electrospray. The use of ion-noble gas or ion-surface collisions to activate the analyte ion has added significantly to the power of these methods. The research of this project is directed to developing the detailed mechanistic understanding of these activation processes, improving their applicability for analytical mass spectrometry.