Mass spectrometry, a century-old technique, has played a key role in analytical chemistry due to its high molecular sensitivity. Since 1898, when German physicist Wilhelm Wien first laid the foundation of mass spectrometry, it has undergone tremendous development in terms of its working principle, instrumentation, and applications. Branches of mass spectrometry have spread in several analytical sciences for molecular characterization e.g., food analysis, material science, forensics, biological sciences, space sciences, medical diagnostics, petrochemistry, etc. Alongside, materials have made major inroads into mass spectrometry over the last 10 years. Advanced micro/nanomaterials have helped in enhanced ionization, easy sampling, selective ionization of complex mixtures, performing chemistry, etc. However today, mass spectrometry is not only an analytical tool but used as a preparative process for the synthesis of material. This form of mass spectrometry is termed ‘preparative mass spectrometry’ whose roots were found in 1977. Synthesis of several nanomaterials and small organic molecules using preparative mass spectrometry has been demonstrated in recent literatures. Herein, we have discussed the evolution of mass spectrometry from being an analytical tool to become a preparative process.
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