Ion Microscope Imaging Mass Spectrometry Using a Timepix3-Based Optical Camera

• Published in: Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Vol. 33; no. 12; pp. 2328 - 2332
• Main Authors: Wood, Daniel, Burleigh, Robert J., Smith, Natasha, Bortoletto, Daniela, Brouard, Mark, Burt, Michael, Nomerotski, Andrei, Plackett, Richard, Shipsey, Ian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 07-12-2022
• Subjects: Application Note; mass spectrometry imaging; ion microscope imaging; fast imaging sensor; stigmatic ion imaging
• ISSN: 1044-0305; 1879-1123
• DOI: 10.1021/jasms.2c00223

Ion microscopy allows for high-throughput mass spectrometry imaging. In order to resolve congested mass spectra, a high degree of timing precision is required from the microscope detector. In this paper we present an ion microscope mass spectrometer that uses a Timepix3 hybrid pixel readout with an optimal 1.56 ns resolution. A novel triggering technique is also employed to remove the need for an external time-to-digital converter (TDC) and allow the experiment to be performed using a low-cost and commercially available readout system. Results obtained from samples of rhodamine B demonstrate the application of multimass imaging sensors for microscope mass spectrometry imaging with high mass resolution.