The present disclosure provides a sample desorption ionization device and analysis method for a mass spectrometer. The device has a first gas pressure region and a second gas pressure region lower than the first gas pressure region. The device includes: a heating desorption device, carrying a sample and heating the sample, an analyte in the sample is desorbed from the sample under a heating action and then enters the first gas pressure region; a vacuum interface component, connected with the first gas pressure region and the second gas pressure region, and causing the analyte to enter the second gas pressure region from the first gas pressure region under the drive of a gas flow; and a soft ionization source, converting gas molecules in the second gas pressure region into activated gas molecules, the analyte entering the second gas pressure region realizes soft ionization after interacting with the activated gas molecules.

The present application relates to pulsed discharge ionization detectors (PDIDs) and non-radioactive ionization sources, including miniaturized forms thereof. In some examples, the PDID includes annular electrodes, where each electrode is disposed between annular insulators. Also provided herein are methods of making and using such PDIDs, such as for detecting one or more volatile organic compounds, as well as non-radioactive ionization sources.

The present application relates to pulsed discharge ionization detectors (PDIDs) and non-radioactive ionization sources, including miniaturized forms thereof. In some examples, the PDID includes annular electrodes, where each electrode is disposed between annular insulators. Also provided herein are methods of making and using such PDIDs, such as for detecting one or more volatile organic compounds, as well as non-radioactive ionization sources.

A particle counter includes a charge generation unit that applies charges generated by discharge to particles in a gas introduced into a gas flow channel to generate charged particles, a collection electrode that collects the charged particles, and a counting unit that determines the number of particles on the basis of a physical quantity that changes in accordance with the number of charged particles collected by the collection electrode. The counting unit determines an average number of charges on the particles using a relationship between a particle diameter and a probability density of the particles and a relationship between the particle diameter and the number of charges on the particles, and determines the number of particles on the basis of the physical quantity and the average number of charges on the particles.

Certain configurations of ionization sources are described. In some examples, an ionization source comprises an ionization block, an electron source, an electron collector, an ion repeller and at least one electrode configured to provide an electric field when a voltage is provided to the at least one electrode. Systems and methods using the ionization source are also described.

A chemical trace detection system includes: a drift tube; a detector disposed within the drift tube; a voltage source to produce an electrical field in the drift tube; an ionizer to establish an ionization region adjacent to the electrical field; and a desorber including a sample holder to hold a sample in or adjacent to the ionization region and a sample heater to desorb particles of the sample held in the sample holder such that the desorbed particles are introduced directly into the ionization region from the sample holder to form ionized particles that are forced toward the detector by the electrical field. A regenerable dryer assembly for supplying dry drift gas to an ion mobility spectrometer is also provided that includes a regenerable dessicant material.

A chemical trace detection system includes: a drift tube; a detector disposed within the drift tube; a voltage source to produce an electrical field in the drift tube; an ionizer to establish an ionization region adjacent to the electrical field; and a desorber including a sample holder to hold a sample in or adjacent to the ionization region and a sample heater to desorb particles of the sample held in the sample holder such that the desorbed particles are introduced directly into the ionization region from the sample holder to form ionized particles that are forced toward the detector by the electrical field. A regenerable dryer assembly for supplying dry drift gas to an ion mobility spectrometer is also provided that includes a regenerable dessicant material.

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a substrate, forming an anchor layer, and forming one or more self-aligned nanotip pillar pairs disposed vertically between the substrate and the anchor layer. A given one of the nanotip pillar pairs comprises a bottom nanotip pillar and a top nanotip pillar, the bottom nanotip pillar comprising a base portion disposed on a top surface of the substrate and the top nanotip pillar comprising a base portion disposed in the anchor layer. The bottom nanotip pillar and the top nanotip pillar comprise sidewalls that taper to points as distance from the respective base portions increases.

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a substrate, forming an anchor layer, and forming one or more self-aligned nanotip pillar pairs disposed vertically between the substrate and the anchor layer. A given one of the nanotip pillar pairs comprises a bottom nanotip pillar and a top nanotip pillar, the bottom nanotip pillar comprising a base portion disposed on a top surface of the substrate and the top nanotip pillar comprising a base portion disposed in the anchor layer. The bottom nanotip pillar and the top nanotip pillar comprise sidewalls that taper to points as distance from the respective base portions increases.

The present application relates to pulsed discharge ionization detectors (PDIDs) and non-radioactive ionization sources, including miniaturized forms thereof. In some examples, the PDID includes annular electrodes, where each electrode is disposed between annular insulators. Also provided herein are methods of making and using such PDIDs, such as for detecting one or more volatile organic compounds, as well as non-radioactive ionization sources.