Nanostructured thin films and their uses

A mass spectrometry system, comprising:

• a substrate comprising a first surface and a first film layer comprising alumina or aluminum on at least region of said first surface, said film layer having a nanostructured surface;
• an active layer comprising silicon or tungsten deposited on said first film layer;
• at least a first analyte associated with at least a first region of said active layer;
• a laser positioned to direct energy at the at least first region to desorb the first analyte from the first region;
• and
• a mass spectrometer instrument positioned to receive the at least first analyte desorbed from the active layer, wherein the active layer assists in incorporating and transferring energy to the analyte during laser desorption.

A method for manufacturing a device useful for analysis of one or more analytes comprising:

• providing a supporting substrate having a first surface;
• depositing a non-silicon film layer comprising aluminum or alumina on the first surface;
• forming a nanostructured surface from the non-silicon film layer;
• depositing an active layer comprising silicon or tungsten on the nanostructured surface;
• and
• depositing one or more analytes onto one or more regions of the active layer.

A method for performing mass spectrometry comprising:

• providing a supporting substrate having a first surface, a non-silicon thin film layer comprising alumina or aluminum having a nanostructured surface deposited on the first surface, an active layer comprising silicon or tungsten deposited on the thin film layer, and one or more analytes associated with one or more regions of the active layer;
• desorbing the one or more analytes from the one or more regions with energy from a laser directed at the surface;
• and
• analyzing the one or more analytes in a mass spectrometer instrument.