Patent ID: 8409870

Claim:
MALDI mass spectrometry method for analysing an aerosol analyte, comprising providing an at least partially saturated vapor of an alcohol at a temperature of 15-100° C. to contact a matrix material for MALDI mass spectrometry; sublimating said matrix material in the presence of the alcohol vapor wherein the matrix material comprises a 2-mercapto-4,5-dialkylheteroarene according to formula (I) or a tautomeric form thereof wherein X is N, S or O, and wherein each R 1 and R 2 is independently hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, ethoxy, or propoxy, or wherein R 1 and R 2 are taken together to form an optionally substituted aromatic ring structure, optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms, contacting the aerosol analyte in the gas phase with the sublimated matrix material; ionising at least part of said analyte; and separating the ionised components using a mass spectrometer.