Miniature TOF Mass Spectrometer with Enhanced Resolution

Zeteo Tech, Inc. proposes to design, develop and prototype a robust, small size, weight, and power (SWaP) TOF mass spectrometer with enhanced mass resolving power (m/m 25,000, FWHM) along with a full, practically unlimited mass range (from 10 Da to 10,000 Da), which will allow in situ detection of organic and biomolecules in complex mixtures. It is based on a novel design of a multi-reflection TOF using microfabrication techology with no overlap of ions with different m/z, which results in the whole mass range being recorded. The mass analyzer operates at low static voltages (a few hundred volts). Using static voltages (without pulsing) simplifies the electronics and minimizes power consumption for the proposed miniature mass spectrometer. We estimate the mass spectrometer weight as about 3 kg and power consumption less than 50 W (without vacuum pumps). Initially, the mass spectrometer will be operated with a laser/desorption ionization ion source using tightly focused pulsed UV laser. LDI mode of operation allows direct organics detection in complex matrices with minimal sample preparation. High mass resolving power provided by the multireflection TOF mass analyzer will allow to differentiate compounds with nearly identical molecular weights, e.g. leucine (monoisotopic mass 131.095 g/mole), and creatine (monoisotopic mass 113.059 g/mole). Later, we will extend its applications for gas chromatography-electron impact (GC-EI) ionization and other ionization methods, including, but not limited, to ionization at elevated pressures, such as laser spray and electrospray (ESI). Top-priority planetary science goals require detailed chemical analysis of surface and subsurface samples.  Laser desorption mass spectrometry (MS) enables in situ characterization of planetary materials' organic content and chemical composition without extensive processing. However, the definite identification of complex organic molecules requires differentiating competing isobaric species characterized by the same nominal mass-to-charge ratio (or m/z), requiring high mass resolving power (m/Δm ≥ 10,000). Traditionally, quadrupole and miniature time-of-flight (TOF) MS lack the required resolution. The MASPEX TOF instrument uses multiple reflectrons to achieve high mass resolution but has a limited mass range due to overlapping trajectories. The OrbitrapTM mass analyzer provides the required resolution, but the electronic complexity makes space qualification difficult. To overcome these limitations, the proposed novel multi-reflection TOF-MS has high mass resolving power and unlimited mass range for analyzing complex mixtures in situ.   This effort is comprised of three objectives.   Objective 1:  Build and test a breadboard LDI mass spectrometer based on miniature TOF mass analyzer developed in phase I.   Objective 2: Optimize miniature LDI TOF mass spectrometer performance in terms of mass resolving power and sensitivity.   Objective 3: Assemble and test a complete brassboard LDI TOF mass spectrometer.     Deliverables   We will deliver packaged miniature LDI TOF mass spectrometer to NASA along with Phase II Final Report at the end of the project.

The proposed miniature TOF-MS relates to the NASA SBIR topic, soliciting instruments with increased resolution and reduced SWAP for in situ planetary missions.  In addition to the primary application for in-situ detection and unambiguous amino acid and other prebiotic organic molecule identification in solid samples, this technology can be used for 1) identifying minerals on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids; 2) monitoring gas samples chemical composition.   A miniature TOF-MS with thermal desorption and EI ionization can analyze environmental samples on-site.  Low mass resolving power gas chromatography (GC) MS instruments are currently used, but the proposed instrument’s high mass resolving power eliminates the GC separation step, thus increasing analysis speed and eliminating helium consumption.    

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