Fundamental Studies of the Mechanisms of Desolvated Ion Formation from Small Charged Droplets

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This research project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, addresses the dynamics and temporal evolution of highly charged micron sized droplets. The goal of the work being carried out by Professor Beauchamp at CalTech is to determine the mechanism of formation of desolvated ions, which provides the fundamental basis of ion formation in electrospray ion sources used in mass spectrometry. Electrospray ionization is very useful for the mass spectrometric analysis of large biologically significant molecules. The ionization mechanism is probed by the use of ion mobility spectrometry coupled with fluorescence probing of dye tagged droplets. %%% In order to determine the mechanism of solvent loss and ion formation in the electrospray ionization source mass spectrometer, this research project is investigating single droplet ion mobility. Mobility measurements coupled with laser induced fluorescence tagging of droplets will provide time dependent information on the ion desolvation process. An increased understanding of the ion formation mechanism will improve the applicability of mass spectrometry to the structural analysis of large, biologically significant compounds.