THE RENAISSANCE OF TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Although the time-of-flight mass spectrometer based on the Wiley-McLaren pulsed two-grid ion source has been available since the early 1960s its application has been limited by low resolving power and sensitivity. The renaissance of interest in this instrument is, in part, a consequence of the development of new ionisation techniques such as plasma and laser desorption, which are advantaged by the time-of-flight spectrometer's unique ability to provide a complete mass spectrum per event, and its high mass range. This has led to design developments which give major improvements in instrument performance which promise to yield rich rewards particularly in the study of large biomolecules. © 1990.