Target for use in a laser desorption mass spectrometer

1 . A target for use in a laser desorption mass spectrometer, wherein the target has at least one surface, wherein the surface is covered at least partially with at least one layer, wherein the layer is a hydrogen comprising, silicon-incorporated amorphous carbon (a-C:H:Si) layer, wherein the a-C:H:Si layer comprises:

40 at. % to 80 at. % of carbon;

1 at. % to 20 at. % of hydrogen; and

10 at. % to 40 at. % of silicon.

2 . The target according to claim 1 , wherein the a-C:H:Si layer is a hydrogen comprising, heteroatom modified, silicon-incorporated amorphous carbon (a-C:H:Si:X) layer, wherein the heteroatom X is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine, boron, wherein the a-C:H:Si:X layer further comprises:

up to 15 at. % of oxygen;

up to 10 at. % of nitrogen;

up to 10 at. % of boron; and

up to 5 at. % of fluorine;

wherein a sum of oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine and boron is at least 1 at. %.

3 . The target according to claim 1 , wherein the a-C:H:Si layer is deposited on the surface of the target by a plasma supported surface coating process.

4 . The target according to claim 1 , wherein the target comprises at least one substrate, wherein the substrate is made of at least one material which is selected from the group consisting of: glass; steel; aluminum; silicon; germanium; titanium; copper; cobalt; chromium; molybdenum, nickel; tungsten; tantalum; graphite; and a polymeric material.

5 . The target according to claim 4 , wherein the steel is stainless steel.

6 . The target according to claim 4 , wherein the polymeric material is selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyacrylate, polyaniline, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, polypyrrole, and/or polythiophene.

7 . A laser desorption mass spectrometer comprising:

a) at least one target according to claim 1 ;

b) at least one laser, wherein the laser is configured for providing energy to the target such that at least one ion of at least one analyte is generated; and

c) at least one of a mass analyzing unit, an ion-mobility spectrometry device.

8 . A continuous laser desorption mass spectrometer system comprising at least one laser desorption mass spectrometer according to claim 7 , wherein the target is provided as a material strip or as a stack of platelets.

9 . The continuous laser desorption mass spectrometer system according to claim 8 , wherein the continuous laser desorption mass spectrometer system further comprises at least one vacuum system, wherein the continuous laser desorption mass spectrometer system is configured for passing the material strip or the platelets through the vacuum system.

10 . A kit comprising (i) at least one target according to claim 1 ; and (ii) at least one internal standard.

11 . A method for preparing at least one sample for analysis in a laser desorption mass spectrometer, wherein the method comprises:

i. providing at least one target according to claim 1 ; and

ii. applying at least one sample to the target, wherein the sample comprises at least one analyte.

12 . A method for detecting at least one analyte in a sample with a laser desorption mass spectrometer, wherein the method comprises:

I. conducting a method for preparing at least one sample for analysis in a laser desorption mass spectrometer according to claim 11 ; and

II. detecting the at least one analyte in the sample with at least one laser desorption mass spectrometer.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the analyte is selected from a steroid, a therapeutically active substance, a detergent, a glycoside, a peptide, a protein, a dye, an ion, a nucleic acid, an amino acid, a metabolite, a hormone, a fatty acid, a lipid, and/or a carbohydrate.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the steroid is a ketosteroid or a secosteroid.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the analyte has a molar mass from 6 Da to 10000 Da.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the analyte has a molar mass from 6 Da to 3000 Da.

17 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the sample is selected from a physiological fluid.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the physiological fluid is selected from blood, serum, plasma, saliva, ocular lens fluid, cerebral spinal fluid, sweat, urine, milk, ascites fluid, mucous, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, tissue and/or cells.

19 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the analyte comprises permanently positive charged molecules or permanently negative charged molecules.