A mass spectrometry device that is provided with an ionization unit and ionizes, by the ionization unit, a sample separated by a separation column, subjects the sample to mass separation and detect ions obtained in the mass separation, includes: a gas introduction unit that introduces a first gas obtained by vaporizing a liquid into the ionization unit using a second gas, wherein: the ionization unit ionizes the sample by reacting ions obtained by ionizing the first gas with the sample.

A method includes parallel or serial ionization of a gas mixture by activating at least two ionization devices operating using different ionization procedures, and/or by ionizing the gas mixture in a detector to which the gas mixture and ions and/or metastable particles of an ionization gas are fed. The method also includes detecting the ionized gas mixture in the detector for the mass spectrometric examination thereof. A mass spectrometer for mass spectrometric examination of gas mixtures includes an ionization unit for ionizing a gas mixture and a detector for detecting the ionized gas mixture.

Disclosed are a multimethod ionization device (MID) to utilize at least chemical ionization and a system further utilizing such a device provided with a reaction chamber for ion formation of reagent species for adduct formation from at least one analyte to be characterized as based on mass to charge ratio for the analyte identification.

A method and apparatus that ionize vapors for their chemical analysis is described. The new ionizer improves the ionization efficiency by reducing dilution of sample molecules and improving transmission of ions to the analyzer. This is accomplished by a new flow configuration, in which a stream of clean gas focuses the ions towards the analyzer. A deflector prevents the formation of turbulent perturbation, and the ionization maintains a laminar regime without the need for additional separating walls or electrodes. The flow within the ionizer is configured so that contaminants released by the inner walls of the ionizer do not reach the ionization region. The resulting ionizer improves the ionization efficiency, and the background levels for low volatility species. This makes it ideal for the analysis of low volatility species in the gas phase. One application of this ionizer is the analysis of human breath in real time.

An analyzer according to the present invention includes an electron emission element, a detector, an electric field generator, an electrostatic gate electrode, and a controller, in which the electron emission element includes a lower electrode, a surface electrode, and an intermediate layer, and directly or indirectly generates anions by electrons emitted in an ionization region between the electron emission element and the electrostatic gate electrode, the electrostatic gate electrode controls injection of the anions into a drift region between the electrostatic gate electrode and the detector, the detector detects the anions move through the drift region by a potential gradient, and the controller applies a pulse voltage between the lower electrode and the surface electrode, and applies a voltage to the electrostatic gate electrode such that the electrostatic gate electrode injects the anions into the drift region during a time when the pulse voltage is on.

Disclosed are a multimethod ionization device (MID) to utilize at least chemical ionization and a system further utilizing such a device provided with a reaction chamber for ion formation of reagent species for adduct formation from at least one analyte to be characterized as based on mass to charge ratio for the analyte identification.

Laser ablation devices and methods including laser ablation are provided. The ablation devices can include a deep UV laser. Dual-laser ablation devices are also provided. Biomolecules can be ablated using a combination of deep UV laser and nanoelectrospray, resulting in protonated sample molecules.

A miniature mass spectrometer includes an atmospheric pressure ionisation source and a first vacuum chamber having an atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary, a second vacuum chamber downstream of the first vacuum chamber, and a third vacuum chamber downstream of the second vacuum chamber. An ion detector is located in the third vacuum chamber. A first RF ion guide is located within the first vacuum chamber and a second RF ion guide is located within the second vacuum chamber. The ion path length from the atmospheric pressure sampling orifice or capillary to an ion detecting surface of the ion detector is 400 mm. The mass spectrometer also includes a tandem quadrupole mass analyser, 3D ion trap mass analyser, 2D or linear ion trap mass analyser, Time of Flight mass analyser, quadrupole-Time of Flight mass analyser, or electrostatic mass analyser arranged in the third vacuum chamber.

A system including a gas source coupled to a mass spectrometer with a supply line to provide reagent gas for chemical ionization; a bypass line connecting the supply line to a foreline of a vacuum pump, the bypass line including a valve and a bypass restrictor; and a cycle timer operable to open the valve for a first period of time and close the valve for a second period of time.

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.