Functionalized porous silicon surfaces as DESI-MS substrates for small molecules analysis.

In desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS), the type of surface in addition to low gas and solvent flow rates help to avoid the "splashing of solvent" or "washing effect", by which samples are promptly removed from the surface by the spray. These effects operate on smooth surfaces and generally result in unstable signals as the spray moves over the spot. The aim of this work is to compare the performance of functionalized porous silicon surfaces (pSi) for small molecules analysis with regard to the stability of the signal and the limits of detection (LODs) observed in DESI-MS. The results showed that functional groups, like 1-decene and heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl trimethoxysilane, on pSi surface provides a good alternative for dried spot analysis by DESI-MS, improving stability of the signal and the LODs. This improvement is possible because the dual process containing the weak sample-surface interactions of the hydrophobic characteristic of the functional groups and increasing the surface area of interaction between the sample and the thin solvent film created by the DESI spray, resulting in more effective dissolution of the analyte in the spray solvent without fast removal of the sample.