Zeolitic imidazolate framework nanocrystals for enrichment and direct detection of environmental pollutants by negative ion surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF) nanocrystals serve as sorbents and matrices for negative ion surface assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The unique properties of ZIFs make them suitable for analyzing a series of environmental pollutants with high signal intensity and a clean background. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks were proposed as a new absorbent and matrix for negative ion MALDI-TOF MS, exhibiting an interference-free background, good reproducibility and sensitivity for analysis of environmental pollutants.