Analytical Spectrometry

Analytical spectrometry comprises a suite of techniques that probe the composition of matter by measuring its interaction with electromagnetic or particle radiation. In optical spectrometry, atoms or molecules are identified and quantified by their characteristic absorption, emission or scattering of light; examples include atomic absorption (AAS), atomic emission (AES) and Raman or infrared spectroscopy. In mass spectrometry (MS), gaseous ions are separated by mass-to-charge ratio, often following ionization by electron impact, laser ablation, electrospray or plasma processes. Coupling spectrometric detectors to separation methods or to ambient ion sources has extended the range of analytes and matrices that can be analysed, from trace metals in food and environmental samples to biomarkers in biofluids. Recent advances have focused on enhancing sensitivity, expanding elemental and molecular coverage, miniaturizing instrumentation for field use, and automating data processing. The global significance of these methods is reflected in applications that span food safety, clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and materials science.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A wide-energy programmable microwave plasma-ionization mass spectrometry system now permits digital tuning of ionization energies, enabling coverage of polar biomolecules, non-polar organics and trace metals in seconds. By scanning programmed waveforms, the technique detects multiple analyte classes in a single drop of serum or soil extract and interfaces seamlessly with chromatographic separations. Another study has shown that artificial-intelligence-driven processing of nuclear magnetic resonance data can perform quadrature detection from minimal echo signals, estimate pointwise spectral uncertainty and generate reference-free measures of spectrum quality. These AI frameworks are reshaping the precision and throughput of high-resolution NMR analyses.

Research from all publishers

Low-power standing acoustic waves have been harnessed to guide and focus atmospheric ions in high-pressure environments, offering a novel ion-optical approach that avoids complex electrostatic geometries and promises integration with ambient interfaces to boost sensitivity. Comparative evaluations of solid-phase microextraction-mass spectrometry (SPME-MS) couplings have shown that microfluidic open interfaces can accommodate diverse sorbent geometries—fibres, blades or probes—while retaining linearity, precision and minimal matrix effects, making SPME-MS attractive for anti-doping and pharmacokinetic screening. In food analysis, smartphone-compatible paper-based devices incorporating ambient ionization sources such as transmission-mode DART and coated blade spray have achieved sub-ppb sensitivity for pesticides and veterinary drug residues, enabling on-site screening without extensive sample preparation.

Analytical Spectrometry publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in analytical spectrometry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ionization energy: the energy required to remove an electron from a neutral atom or molecule, forming a positive ion.

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP): a high-temperature ion source produced by RF-driven argon plasma, used to atomize and excite elements for optical or mass spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry (MS): an analytical technique that separates ions by their mass-to-charge ratio, enabling identification and quantification of elements or molecules.

Ambient ionization: ion-generation methods performed at atmospheric pressure with minimal or no sample preparation, such as DESI, DART or coated blade spray.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME): a solvent-free extraction technique using a coated fibre or substrate to preconcentrate analytes from liquid or air samples prior to MS analysis.

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): the ratio of an analytical signal’s amplitude to the background noise, determining detection limits and precision.

Wide-energy plasma-ionization: an ion source whose energy can be digitally programmed to optimize ionization for diverse analytes in a single analysis.

References

1. Wide-energy programmable microwave plasma-ionization for high-coverage mass spectrometry analysis. Nature Communications (2024).
2. Beyond traditional magnetic resonance processing with artificial intelligence. Communications Chemistry (2024).
3. Manipulation of Gaseous Ions with Acoustic Fields at Atmospheric Pressure. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2024).
4. Comparison of different approaches for direct coupling of solid-phase microextraction to mass spectrometry for drugs of abuse analysis in plasma. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis (2022).