The present invention is direct to a nano-probe corona tool and uses thereof. A nano-probe corona tool is disclosed having a tip with a diameter in the nano-scale, typically around 100 nm. The nano-probe corona tool is constructed of electrically conductive material. On the other end of the tool, a pulsed voltage source outputs a pulsed voltage to generate a pulsed electrical potential at the tip. The pulsed electrical potential at the tip causes a plasma discharge corona to occur. Uses of the corona discharge include, but are not limited to, optical emission spectroscopy, in the enhancement of deposition of coatings and nanoscale welding, e.g., nanotube or nanowires to a contact pad and welding two nanowires together, and in nanoscale surgery. For example, a nano-probe comprising CNTs may be inserted into cell membranes. The resulting corona discharge may be used to destroy tumors within the cell.

The present disclosure discloses a corona discharge assembly, an ion mobility spectrometer and a corona discharge method. The corona discharge assembly includes at least one corona discharge unit, wherein, the corona discharge unit includes a pair of corona metal wires arranged in parallel, and pulses having the same amplitude but opposite polarities are applied to the corona metal wires arranged in parallel, respectively. The present disclosure can generate more reactive ions than corona needles or tips, facilitate improving sensitivity of the ion mobility spectrometer, and effectively prolong service life of a corona source to 3-10 years.

The present disclosure discloses a corona discharge assembly, an ion mobility spectrometer and a corona discharge method. The corona discharge assembly includes at least one corona discharge unit, wherein, the corona discharge unit includes a pair of corona metal wires arranged in parallel, and pulses having the same amplitude but opposite polarities are applied to the corona metal wires arranged in parallel, respectively. The present disclosure can generate more reactive ions than corona needles or tips, facilitate improving sensitivity of the ion mobility spectrometer, and effectively prolong service life of a corona source to 3-10 years.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method for identifying a chemical composition includes, collecting a chemical sample and introducing the chemical sample to a detection system, performing, with a differential mobility spectrometer, differential mobility spectrometry on the chemical sample to separate ions within the chemical sample into a first constituent group based on a first analysis characteristic. The method further includes, performing, with an ion mobility spectrometer, ion mobility spectrometry on the first constituent group to separate ions within the first constituent group into a second constituent group based on a second analysis characteristic, and determining an identity of the chemical sample based on ions present within the second constituent group.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method for identifying a chemical composition includes, collecting a chemical sample and introducing the chemical sample to a detection system, performing, with a differential mobility spectrometer, differential mobility spectrometry on the chemical sample to separate ions within the chemical sample into a first constituent group based on a first analysis characteristic. The method further includes, performing, with an ion mobility spectrometer, ion mobility spectrometry on the first constituent group to separate ions within the first constituent group into a second constituent group based on a second analysis characteristic, and determining an identity of the chemical sample based on ions present within the second constituent group.

The present disclosure discloses a silicon nanowire chip and silicon nanowire chip-based mass spectrometry detection method. The detection method includes the following steps: step 1 of manufacturing a silicon nanowire chip, comprising: subjecting a monocrystalline silicon wafer to a surface washing pretreatment, a metal-assisted etching and a post-alkali etching to obtain a silicon nanowire chip with a tip, and performing a surface chemical modification or a nanomaterial modification on the silicon nanowire chip; step 2 of evaluating mass spectrometry performance of the silicon nanowire chip; and step 3 of performing a tip-contact sampling and in-situ ionization mass spectrometry detection.

A solution-cathode glow discharge (SCGD) spectrometry apparatus may comprise an SCGD source and a mass or ion mobility spectrometer. A method for ionizing a molecular analyte may comprise contacting the molecular analyte with a plasma discharge to form ions and separating the ions in a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer. The contacting step may occur under atmospheric pressure and/or ambient conditions. The molecular analyte may be fragmented by the plasma discharge.

The present invention provides an ionization detector having a base having an enclosed chamber. The enclosed chamber has a first end and a second end. The detector also includes a first outlet which is a source of an excitable medium. A second outlet is provided which functions a source of an analyte that is transported by a carrier gas. An ionization source for creating a discharge from said excitable medium is also provided. The collector electrode generates a time dependent current based on its interaction with ionized analytes from which the analyte may be detected.

The present invention provides an ionization detector having a base having an enclosed chamber. The enclosed chamber has a first end and a second end. The detector also includes a first outlet which is a source of an excitable medium. A second outlet is provided which functions a source of an analyte that is transported by a carrier gas. An ionization source for creating a discharge from said excitable medium is also provided. The collector electrode generates a time dependent current based on its interaction with ionized analytes from which the analyte may be detected.

A humidity reduction apparatus and a method for reducing the humidity of a volume of gas. The humidity reduction apparatus comprises a gas delivery conduit, at least one heat-conductive media positioned in-line within at least a portion of the gas delivery conduit, and a cooler in contact with at least a portion of the gas delivery conduit to cool the gas delivery conduit and the at least one heat-conductive media. The gas delivery conduit comprises at least one conducting portion. The first side of the cooler is configured to cool the at least one conducting portion of the gas delivery conduit and the at least one heat-conductive media. The voltage applied across the cooler is selectably reversed such that the first side heats the at least one conducting portion of the gas delivery conduit and the at least one heat-conductive media.