Catalytic Paper Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry with Metal Nanotubes and the Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene.

Materials are making inroads into mass spectrometry, and an example is the use of advanced materials for enhanced ionization by transformation of a less-ionizable molecule to an easily ionizable one. Here we show the use of Pt nanoparticle-decorated nanotubes as highly active catalysts for the reduction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene to 2,4,6-triaminotoluene and subsequent easy detection of the product by in situ ambient ionization mass spectrometry.