A spray ionization device comprising: a first tube that has a first flow path through which a liquid can flow and a first outlet on one end thereof from which the liquid is sprayed; a second tube that surrounds the first tube with a gap therebetween, has a second flow path through which a gas can flow, and has a second outlet on the one end thereof; and an electrode that extends through the interior of the first flow path of the first tube, from the other end thereof to the one end, said electrode being arranged such that the tip thereof is at the same position as the first outlet or is further on the other end side than the first outlet, and said electrode being able to apply a voltage to the liquid by means of a power source connected to the electrode.

Disclosed is an emitter device configured to operate as part of an electrospray ionization mass spectrometry device, the emitter device providing droplets of a liquid containing material to be analyzed. Also disclosed are methods of use of the emitter device 1.

An ionizer includes a probe having multiple coaxially aligned conduits. The conduits may carry liquids, and nebulizing and heating gases at various flow rates and temperatures, for generation of ions from a liquid source. An outermost conduit defines an entrainment region that transports and entrains ions in a gas for a defined distance along the length of the conduits. In embodiments, various voltages may be applied to the multiple conduits to aid in ionization and to guide ions. Depending on the voltages applied to the multiple conduits and electrodes, the ionizer can act as an electrospray, APCI, or APPI source. Further, the ionizer may include a source of photons or a source of corona ionization. Formed ions may be provided to a downstream mass analyser.

A method for cleaning an electrospray emitter of a mass spectrometer comprises the steps of: (a) changing a mode of operation of the electrospray emitter from a stable jet mode of operation to a dripping mode or a pulsating mode of operation by lowering a magnitude, |V|, of a voltage applied between a counter electrode and the electrospray emitter; and (b) changing the mode of operation of the electrospray emitter from the dripping mode or the pulsating mode of operation to the stable jet mode of operation by increasing the magnitude, |V|, of the applied voltage; wherein the repetitions are performed at a predetermined frequency that depends on one or more of liquid flow rate, an emitter internal diameter, and liquid properties.

An ionizer including: an ionization chamber 2; a sample nozzle 60 configured to cause a liquid sample to flow out into the ionization chamber 2; an assist gas passage 61 configured to supply, to the ionization chamber 2, an assist gas that promotes desolvation of the liquid sample; a heater 62 disposed inside the assist gas passage 61; and a heat transfer member 64 disposed in the assist gas passage 61 in contact with the heater 62. The heat transfer member 64 can be disposed, for example, inside the heater 62 including a spirally wound heater wire and between the heater 62 and an inner wall surface of the assist gas passage 61.

Systems and methods for ionizing analytes in a sample use an atomizer that generates aerosol particles containing the sample analytes and an emitter having inner and outer capillaries. The outer capillary is arranged about (e.g., concentrically about) the inner capillary, forms an orifice of the emitter, and receives the aerosol from the atomizer. The aerosol particles condense against the inner surface of the outer capillary and/or the outer surface of the inner capillary and form a reservoir of condensate liquid sample at the orifice of the emitter. The emitter receives, within the inner capillary, a nebulizing gas that flows towards the terminal end of the inner capillary. An electrical potential is applied between the emitter and an inlet of a sample analyzer. The nebulizing gas, the supply pressure of the aerosol to the outer capillary, and the electrical potential generate an electrospray plume of electrically charged analyte particles for analysis.

An electrospray apparatus including a plurality of emitters, disposed on a substrate, wherein the plurality of emitters can have a narrow parameter distribution.

There are provided an ion source that can accurately and efficiently grasp whether a tip end position on a capillary downstream side is proper and a control method therefor. An ion source according to an embodiment of the present invention measures an electric current generated due to the application of a voltage to a capillary by a power supply when a sample is not introduced into the capillary. When the electric current is within tolerance, the ion source outputs projection amount information expressing that the projection amount of the capillary is proper, and the ion source outputs the projection amount information expressing that the projection amount is improper when the projection amount is not within the tolerance.

The present disclosure is applicable to the field of analytical instruments, and provides a multifunctional probe for sample pickup, delivery and electrospray ionization used for direct sample analysis with a liquid-phase mass spectrometer. The multifunctional probe comprises a needle body and a tip part, wherein said tip part is continuously contracted from the needle body in whole or in part, and said tip part is provided with a solution carrying structure. The present disclosure further provides a combined sample introduction and electrospray device for liquid-phase mass spectrometry comprising said multifunctional probe, further comprising a mechanical arm and an ion source with a sealed chamber and a needle port on the sealed chamber.

In a sampling interface for mass spectrometry, a method and apparatus are set forth for preventing liquid overflow from a sampling probe into a sample. The apparatus comprises a substrate adapted to retain a droplet of liquid as it forms at an open end of the sampling probe, and a sensor on a surface of the substrate opposite the sample adapted to detect the droplet of liquid and generate a signal for controlling the droplet of liquid before it overflows into the sample.