ADVANCES IN SURFACE-ANALYSIS AND MASS-SPECTROMETRY USING LASER-DESORPTION METHODS

Laser desorption methods have profoundly influenced surface analysis a nd mass spectrometry. They provide snapshots of surface processes and allow detection of minute quantities of surface adsorbates. They allow the intact vaporization of polar, nonvolatile, high molecular weight, and thermally labile compounds that would otherwise be inaccessible t o gas-phase studies. This contribution presents some recent advances i n the field of laser desorption from surfaces, describes the experimen tal realization of a two-step laser mass spectrometer, highlights new insights into the mechanism of laser-induced thermal desorption, and i llustrates the practical usefulness of the methodology with selected a nalytical examples.