Figure 4.
(A) In MALDI and SALDI experiments, matrix is applied to a sample and allowed to co-crystallize on a conductive surface. A UV laser shot at the sample/matrix facilitates soft ionization by transferring energy from the laser to the analyte to form ions that are guided to the mass spectrometer for analysis. (B) LAESI and IR-MALDESI experiments have samples that contain frozen water. An IR laser shot at the sample releases/desorbs the analyte, which is then ionized by ESI before being taken up by the mass spectrometer for analysis.
