About this Research Topic
Although the tremendous potential of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in various areas has been demonstrated, the analytical performance, such as sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, quantification accuracy, comprehensiveness of molecular detection, and level of matrix interference, of these techniques are generally lower than traditional mass spectrometric techniques, such as LC/MS and GC/MS. Therefore, ambient ionization techniques still have a large margin of improvement and development. In addition, the detailed mechanisms of many ambient ionization techniques are not well-understood. Thus, more studies are still required to understand the fundamentals of various techniques, which could provide insights for their further advancement. Ambient ionization techniques also have high potential to extend to more applications because of the feature of open-surface sampling and the commercial availability of some of the techniques. This Research Topic aims to collect high quality manuscripts on further refinement and development, fundamental studies, and new applications of ambient ionization techniques.
We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Refinement and methodological advances of existing ambient ionization techniques towards improving analytical performance
• Development of integrated ambient ionization techniques, i.e., a single system combining multiple ionization techniques
• Fundamental studies on mechanisms of ambient ionization techniques
• New applications of ambient ionization techniques
• Design and development of new ambient ionization techniques
We would like to acknowledge Dr Haidi Yin, who has acted as a coordinator and has contributed to the preparation of the proposal for this Research Topic.
Keywords: Ambient Ionization, Mass Spectrometry, Desorption Electrospray Ionization, Food Analysis, Point-of-Care Analysis
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.