Aerosol droplets are unique microcompartments containing microscopic amounts of material and exhibiting surprising chemical reactivity. Although a diverse set of tools exists to characterize the chemical composition of individual submicron particles in air, comparatively fewer approaches can chemically analyze individual, airborne picolitre droplets. We describe a novel approach for mass spectrometric analysis of individual aqueous picolitre droplets (∼2–180 pL volume) containing down to ∼1 pg analyte mass per droplet. Individual droplets are generated using a microdroplet dispenser, imparted a small amount of net charge, and guided to the inlet of a high-resolution mass spectrometer using a linear quadrupole-electrodynamic balance. Analyte molecules within the aqueous droplet are ionized using droplet assisted ionization, where droplet breakup within the mass spectrometer inlet leads to generation of molecular ions. This single droplet mass spectrometry approach is demonstrated for small molecules and proteins. The approach generates clean mass spectra, permits timing of droplet delivery for chemical analysis, and, by avoiding a separate ionization stage, avoids potential artifacts arising from current electrospray-based approaches for picolitre droplet analysis. It is anticipated this approach will permit exploration of the factors governing accelerated chemical reactions in aerosol droplets and will be suitable for sensitive analysis of particularly precious samples in different application domains.

Jim S. Walker

Bryan R. Bzdek

Analytical Chemistry

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 是一份经过同行评审的研究期刊，致力于传播分析化学所有分支的新知识和原创知识。基础文章可能涉及化学测量科学的一般原则，不需要直接涉及现有或潜在的分析方法。文章在分析方面可能完全是理论性的，或者它们可能会报告实验结果。它们可能有助于分析操作的任何阶段，包括采样、生物分析、电化学、质谱、微米级和纳米级系统和结构、环境分析、分离、光谱学、化学反应和选择性、仪器仪表、成像、表面分析和数据处理。处理已知分析方法的论文应提供该方法的重要、原始应用、显着改进或对重要分析物的结果。还有：肛门化学。

Analytical Chemistry is a peer-reviewed research journal dedicated to disseminating new knowledge and original research across all branches of analytical chemistry. The foundational articles published may address general principles of chemical measurement science without needing to directly relate to existing or potential analytical methods. These articles can be entirely theoretical or may report experimental results, contributing to any stage of analytical operations, including sampling, bioanalysis, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, micro and nanoscale systems and structures, environmental analysis, separation techniques, spectroscopy, chemical reactions and selectivity, instrumentation, imaging, surface analysis, and data processing. Papers dealing with known analytical methods should provide significant, original applications, substantial improvements, or results for important analytes.

《Analytical Chemistry》是一本经过同行评审的研究期刊，致力于传播分析化学各个分支的新知识和原创研究。期刊发表的基础文章可能涉及化学测量科学的一般原则，而不必直接关联现有或潜在的分析方法。这些文章可以是完全理论性的，或者报告实验结果，涵盖分析操作的各个阶段，包括采样、生物分析、电化学、质谱、微米级和纳米级系统与结构、环境分析、分离技术、光谱学、化学反应与选择性、仪器仪表、成像、表面分析和数据处理。处理已知分析方法的论文应提供该方法的重要应用、显著改进或对重要分析物的结果。

Category	Quartile
化学	1
化学, 分析化学	1

Rapid and Sensitive Chemical Analysis of Individual Picolitre Droplets by Mass Spectrometry

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