EMS Account - Surface ionization organic mass spectrometry: Mechanism

Surface ionization organic mass spectrometry (SIOMS) is described and developments are summarized, SIOMS has a unique and interesting potential, especially in analytical chemistry. Surface ionization (SI) has direct relevance to any experiment in mass spectrometry, in which organic compounds come into contact with hot metal surfaces. The work covered in this Account was mostly carried out in the author's laboratory. The review includes pertinent basic theories, mechanism and response characteristics, together with mass spectra of the classified compounds. The literature on SIOMS is summarised in the form of nominal mass numbers m/z, ordered serially, followed by possible ionic structures and precursor molecules.