The significance of mass spectrometry lies in its unparalleled ability to accurately identify and quantify molecules in complex samples, providing invaluable insights into molecular structures and interactions. Here, we leverage diamond nanostructures as highly sensitive mass sensors by utilizing a self-excitation mechanism under an electron beam in a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM). The diamond molecular balance (DMB) exhibits an exceptional mass resolution of 0.36 MDa, based on its outstanding mechanical quality factor and frequency stability, along with an extensive dynamic range from MDa to TDa. This positions the DMB at the forefront of molecular balances operating at room temperature. Notably, the DMB demonstrates its ability to measure the mass of a single bacteriophage T4 by precisely locating the analyte on the device. These findings highlight the groundbreaking potential of the DMB as a revolutionary tool for mass spectrometry at room temperature.
@article{arxiv.2406.01963,
title = {Diamond molecular balance: Revolutionizing high-resolution mass spectrometry from MDa to TDa at room temperature},
author = {Donggeun Lee and Seung-Woo Jeon and Chang-Hwan Yi and Yang-Hee Kim and Yeeun Choi and Sang-Hun Lee and Jinwoong Cha and Seung-Bo Shim and Junho Suh and Il-Young Kim and Dongyeon Daniel Kang and Hojoong Jung and Cherlhyun Jeong and Jae-pyoung Ahn and Hee Chul Park and Sang-Wook Han and Chulki Kim},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2406.01963},
year = {2024}
}