Abstract  Cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) as a novel inorganic matrix were applied in matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time. of. flight mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis of perfluorinated compounds including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorodecane sulfonate (PFDS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS), and its performance was investigated and compared with conventional organic matrix involving. alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) and 1,8-bis(dimethylamino) naphthalene (DMAN) under the same mass spectrometric conditions. In the experiment, the analytes and matrix were mixed on the sample plate. The crystal of analyte and matrix was excited by using 337-nm laser after the solvent was evaporated, and was detected under negative ion mode of MALDI-TOF-MS. The results demonstrated that CdTe QDs with high UV absorption could be an efficient inorganic matrix for enhancement of peak intensity in MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of perfluorinated compounds. Additionally, mechanism of ionization process was briefly discussed.