Single-crystalline EuF3 hollow hexagonal microdisks: synthesis and application as a background-free matrix for MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of small molecules and polyethylene glycols.

Single-crystalline EuF(3) hexagonal microdisks with hollow interior were fabricated to serve as a background-free matrix for analysis of small molecules and polyethylene glycols (PEGs) by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The long-lived excited state of europium ions can transfer energy to high-energy vibrations of organic molecules, which provides the potential technological application in MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of small molecules and PEGs. The efficiency of the hollow microdisks as a novel matrix of low molecular weight compounds was verified by analysis of small peptide, amino acid, organic compounds, and hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD). The advantage of this matrix in comparison with alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) was demonstrated by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of an amino acid mixture and a peptide mixture. This matrix is successfully used for analysis of PEGs (PEG 2000, PEG 4000, PEG 8000, PEG 15000, and PEG 30000), suggesting a potential for monitoring reactions and for synthetic polymer quality control. The upper limit of detectable mass range was approximately 35,000 Da (PEG 30000). It is believed that this work will not only offer a new technique for high-speed analysis of small molecules and PEGs but also open a new field for applications of rare earth fluorides.