Metallized sheathless electrospray emitters for use in capillary electrophoresis orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Chromiun-gold coated fused silica emitters for electrospray ionization have been fabricated with lifetimes upwards of 100 hours. The coating on these emitters is extremely durable withstanding electrical discharges, abrasion and mechanical stress, Usable flow rates range from 30 nL/min to 1 mu L/min using both standard electrospray solutions and aqueous buffers. Coated cap illary electrophoresis columns incorporating the emitter provide excellent separation, low limits of detection (70-700 attomoles fur peptides), and ar e easy to use. performance of the emitters in continuous infusion experimen ts and capillary electrophoresis/ electrospray ionization mass spectrometry applications are presented. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.