Mass Spectroscopy (MS)
Mass spectrometry ionizes molecules or atoms and separates them by their mass-to-charge ratio, producing spectra that identify compounds and quantify their abundance across a wide dynamic range. As a hard skill it requires selecting the ionization method (ESI, MALDI, EI, ICP) and mass analyzer appropriate to the analyte class, interpreting fragmentation patterns for structural elucidation, and validating quantitative methods with isotope-labeled internal standards. Battery researchers apply mass spectrometry to identify electrolyte decomposition products on electrode surfaces, quantify dissolved transition metals in aged electrolytes, and characterize gas species evolved during formation and abuse testing.
