Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

This article reviews the developmental history, fundamental technology, and general applications of time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). The fundamentals of instrument operation and components are discussed. Applications in terms of gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), laser desorption, multiphoton desorption, plasma desorption (PD), matrix‐assisted laser desorption, surface‐enhanced laser desorption, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) are presented. A review of tandem time‐of‐flight (TOF) techniques with a focus on ion trap TOF instrumentation is provided. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a fundamental understanding of TOFMS principles and applications. Information is presented in a simple, straightforward, didactic fashion.