2,4,6-Trihydroxyacetophenone on zeolite surface: Correlation between electronic relaxation and fragmentation on mass spectra

► Adsorption structure of MALDI matrix on zeolite can be unambiguously determined. ► TR-fluorescence and mass spectrometry were carried out for a matrix on zeolite. ► Fluorescence lifetime of matrix increased when SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of zeolite decreased. ► Small SiO2/Al2O3 ratio yields low density of states of phonon modes by destruction. ► Excess vibrational energy causes dissociation of MALDI matrices.