Gigaohm and Teraohm Resistors in Femtoamp and Picoamp Electrospray Ionization

The femtoamp electrospray ionization (femtoESI) mode has been shown to exhibit unique characteristics that may facilitate ionization efficiency studies and experiments requiring low ion beam flux. Investigation of femtoESI was hindered by a tiny, applied voltage window of 10-100 V, beyond which ionization currents quickly jumped to nanoamps. This window was difficult to locate because the exact onset voltage fluctuates due to variations in ion source alignments. Large resistors (0.1-100 T omega) in series effectively expanded the femtoESI applied voltage range, up to 1400 V. By swapping resistors, rapid alternation allows for the comparison of both ESI modes under the same alignment. In peptide mixtures, analytes with lower surface activity are suppressed in the nanoESI mode whereas the femtoESI mode shows signal enhancement of less surface-active species. For protein solutions, there is little change in the charge states generated but the femtoESI mode does show a decrease in the average charge state of protein peaks. Peptides and proteins analyzed in the femtoESI mode also tend to generate higher intensity sodiated peaks over protonated peaks at specific charge states compared with nanoESI mode operation.

Automated summary

The femtoamp electrospray ionization (femtoESI) mode has unique characteristics that make it suitable for ionization efficiency studies and experiments with low ion beam flux. By using large resistors in series, it is possible to expand the voltage range of femtoESI mode and compare it with nanoESI mode. In peptide mixtures, the femtoESI mode enhances the signal of less surface-active species, while in protein solutions, there is a decrease in the average charge state of protein peaks. Peptides and proteins analyzed in the femtoESI mode tend to generate higher intensity sodiated peaks compared to protonated peaks in specific charge states.