Spatially Shaped Laser Pulses for the Simultaneous Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as well as Positive and Negative Inorganic Ions in Single Particle Mass Spectrometry

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic organic trace components in atmospheric aerosols that have impacts on climate and human health. They are bound to airborne particles and transported over long distances. Observations of their distribution, transport pathways, and degradation are crucial for risk assessment and mitigation. Such estimates would benefit from online detection of PAHs along with analysis of the carrying particles to identify the source. Typically, laser desorption/ionization (LDI) in a bipolar mass spectrometer reveals the inorganic constituents and provides limited molecular information. In contrast, two-step ionization approaches produce detailed PAH mass spectra from individual particles but without the source-specific inorganic composition. Here we report a new technique that yields the single-particle PAH composition along with both positive and negative inorganic ionsvia LDI. Thus, the complete particle characterization and source apportionmentfrom conventional bipolar ...