Surface plasmon resonance-mass spectrometry

A method for analyzing and identifying an analyte within a sample, comprising:

• capturing the analyte by contacting the analyte with an interactive surface layer affixed to a conductive material capable of supporting surface plasmon resonance, wherein the conductive material has a front surface affixed to the interactive surface layer and a back surface affixed to a transparent layer;
• directing a first light beam through the transparent layer at varying angles of incidence or wavelengths such that the first light beam is reflected off the back surface of the conductive material and excites surface plasmons at the interface between the conductive layer and the interactive surface laser;
• detecting the angle of incidence or the wavelength at which the intensity of the reflected first light beam has a minimum due to surface plasmon resonance to determine the angular or wavelength change caused by the analyte captured by the interactive surface layer;
• and
• measuring the mass spectrum of the analyte by desorbing/ionizing the analyte from the interactive surface layer with a second light beam while under vacuum within a mass spectrometer.