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Issue 13, 2010
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Fabrication of nanocluster silicon surface with electric discharge and the application in desorption/ionization on silicon-mass spectrometry

Niina M. Suni,a   Markus Haapala,a   Elina Färm,b   Emma Härkönen,b   Mikko Ritala,b   Lauri Sainiemi,cd   Sami Franssila,cd   Tapio Kotiaho*ae  and  Risto Kostiainen*a  
Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

a Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P. O. Box 56, Finland
E-mail: risto.kostiainen@helsinki.fi
Fax: +358 9 191 59 556
Tel: +358 9 191 59134

b Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P. O. Box 55, Finland

c Department of Micro and Nanosciences, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 13500, Aalto, Finland

d Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 16200, Aalto, Finland

e Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, P. O. Box 55, Finland

Abstract

This study presents a new, simple, and low-cost technique to fabricate a nanocluster silicon (NCSi) surface on planar silicon using a micro-scale direct current (DC) discharge under ambient conditions. The method requires no masks, chemicals, vacuum environment, or laser, but only a high-voltage supply. The NCSi surfaces, characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, consist of oxidized silicon nanoclusters 50–200 nm in diameter, likely formed by melting due to high temperatures in the discharge. The minimum size of the NCSi spot is determined by the size of the discharge tip (∼90 µm). Arbitrary NCSi areas can be produced on a silicon wafer by moving the discharge needle on the surface with the help of a computer-controlled xyz stage. NCSi surfaces can also be formed on three-dimensional (3D) surfaces, as demonstrated with silicon micropillars. NCSi surfaces can be used, for example, in various analytical applications. In this study, we demonstrate their use as sample plates in the analysis of drugs and peptides with desorption/ionization on silicon-mass spectrometry (DIOS-MS).

Graphical abstract: Fabrication of nanocluster silicon surface with electric discharge and the application in desorption/ionization on silicon-mass spectrometry

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Article information

https://doi.org/10.1039/B927181C
Submitted
24 Dec 2009
Accepted
26 Mar 2010
First published
13 Apr 2010
Lab Chip, 2010,10, 1689-1695
Article type
Paper
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Fabrication of nanocluster silicon surface with electric discharge and the application in desorption/ionization on silicon-mass spectrometry

N. M. Suni, M. Haapala, E. Färm, E. Härkönen, M. Ritala, L. Sainiemi, S. Franssila, T. Kotiaho and R. Kostiainen, Lab Chip, 2010, 10, 1689
DOI: 10.1039/B927181C

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