Use of red and black phosphorus as matrix in MALDI TOF Mass spectrometry


                                         Govinda Mandal^1


^1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, A14/326-Kamenice 753/5, 625 00
Brno, Czech Republic


Red and black phosphorus when ablated are forming clusters P[n] (n = 1 – 89, mostly odd)^1, 2. In
this work, the comparison of mass spectra concerning red and black phosphorus was done. The
ionization of red phosphorus yields is approximately 5 times higher than that of black phosphorus,
probably because of phosphorene-like structure of black phosphorus. It has already been mentioned
that red phosphorus can be used as matrix according to Sladkova et al^1. Similarly, black
phosphorus can be used as matrix proposed by He et al^2. We have done, according to the
literature^3, exfoliation of black phosphorus and exfoliated material called phosphorene was
examined as matrix. Both red and black phosphorus or phosphorene were examined as matrices for
peptides.

Concluding, red or black phosphorus or phosphorene can be used with advantage as cheap, effective
and simple matrices for biomolecules analysis in MALDI TOF Mass Spectrometry. Simultaneously, the
clusters of phosphorus can be used as internal calibrant which is offering another advantage.


References:

1.    K. Sladkova, J. Houska, J. Havel. Laser desorption ionization of red phosphorus clusters and
their use for mass calibration in time-of-flight mass spectrometry. 2009; 23:3114-3118

2.    X. He, J. Ding, L. Yu, D. Hussain, Y. Feng. Black phosphorus-assisted laser desorption
ionization mass spectrometry for the determination of low-molecular-weight compounds in biofluids.
Anal Bioanal Chem. 2016; 408:6223-6233

3.    J.R. Brent, N. Savjani, E.A. Lewis, S.J. Haigh, D.J. Lewis. Production of few layer
phosphorene by liquid exfoliation of black phosphorus. Chem. Commun. 2014; 50:13338-13341




*PhD Thesis Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Josef Havel, DrSc.^1