Mass spectrometry generally refers to instrumental methods that enable the determination of the abundance of particles (atoms or molecules) of different molecular masses in a sample. To do this, the particles in the sample must be converted into ions (ionised) and introduced into the instrument’s mass analyser, which is typically maintained under high vacuum. In these processes, molecular mass spectrometry pays particular attention to the molecular properties – and, in particular, the chemical reactivity – of the substances being analysed.

Since 2001, research into molecular mass spectrometry has been a key focus of the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry (PTC) research group. In 2011, we joined the "Institute for Pure and Applied Mass Spectrometry (ipaMS)’ at the University of Wuppertal.

Today, the PTC’s research activities focus primarily on ionisation techniques, both those operating at atmospheric pressure (Atmospheric Pressure Ionisation, API) and those operating at lower pressures, the transport and physicochemical dynamics of molecular reactive ions, the development of numerical methods for modelling such processes, and the development and optimisation of mass spectrometry instruments.