Bubble plasma ionisation probe for analysing liquids by mass spectrometry. A means of a detecting analytes dissolved in a liquid by mass spectrometry is described. Gas flows from a source through a first conduit 105 and thereafter through a coaxial second conduit 103 that also serves as the inlet to the mass spectrometer 102. The coaxial arrangement of conduits is submerged in the liquid to be analysed 301. Using a feedback loop, the gas pressure is adjusted and controlled such that an attached bubble 302 forms at the open end of the first conduit 105. A plasma 305 is provided in the bubble. The plasma is preferably generated by a dielectric barrier discharge between a collar electrode 107 and mass spectrometer inlet 103. Analytes dissolved in the liquid are both desorbed form the gas-liquid interface and ionised by the action of the plasma. Ions formed in this way become entrained in the gas flow and are consequently transferred to the mass spectrometer, where they are analysed.

Bubble plasma ionisation probe for analysing liquids by mass spectrometry. A means of a detecting analytes dissolved in a liquid by mass spectrometry is described. Gas flows from a source through a first conduit 105 and thereafter through a coaxial second conduit 103 that also serves as the inlet to the mass spectrometer 102. The coaxial arrangement of conduits is submerged in the liquid to be analysed 301. Using a feedback loop, the gas pressure is adjusted and controlled such that an attached bubble 302 forms at the open end of the first conduit 105. A plasma 305 is provided in the bubble. The plasma is preferably generated by a dielectric barrier discharge between a collar electrode 107 and mass spectrometer inlet 103. Analytes dissolved in the liquid are both desorbed form the gas-liquid interface and ionised by the action of the plasma. Ions formed in this way become entrained in the gas flow and are consequently transferred to the mass spectrometer, where they are analysed.

One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of mass spectrometric analysis that includes producing either glow discharge within a noble gas between 3-100 mBar pressure, sampling and conditioning glow discharge products within a gas flow through a conductive channel, removing charged particles while transferring excited Ridberg atoms, and mixing conditioned discharge products with analyte flow within an enclosed chamber at elevated temperatures above 150° Celsius for producing a Penning reaction between analyte molecules and Ridberg atoms. The method further includes sampling, by a gas flow, said analyte ions for mass spectrometric analysis, and at least one of the following steps: (i) removing charge within said conditioning channel; (ii) coaxially mixing of analyte flow with the flow of conditioned plasma; and (iii) cooling of the mixed flow within a sonic or supersonic jet for reducing the region of Penning ionization to cold jet.

This mass spectrometric device is provided with a sample container (8) for placing a measurement sample (12) therein, a detector (9) analyzing the mass of a sample and detecting a drug, or the like, in the sample, a dielectric container (3) linked to the sample container for running a discharge current into air to provoke ionization, a valve (2) for sending air intermittently to the sample container, the dielectric container and the detector, a barrier discharge high-voltage power source (6) to be discharged by the dielectric container, a current detection unit (5) connected to the barrier discharge high-voltage power source for detecting a discharge current (28), a discharge-start timing detection unit (7) connected to the current detection unit for detecting the discharge-start timing based on the current detection result from the current detection unit to send a discharge-start timing signal (17), and a control unit (11) for controlling each constituent.

An ion generation apparatus according to the present invention includes an electron emission device, an opposite electrode, and a controller, the electron emission device includes a lower electrode, a surface electrode, and an intermediate layer provided between the lower electrode and the surface electrode, the opposite electrode is provided to be opposite to the surface electrode, and the controller is provided to apply a voltage to the surface electrode, the lower electrode, or the opposite electrode such that a potential of the surface electrode becomes higher than a potential of the lower electrode and a potential of the opposite electrode in a positive ion mode.

In an embodiment of the present ambient ionization experiment, the abundance of background chemicals relative to ions of interest is decreased by pulsing the carrier gas used to generate the excited species directed at the sample. The excited species are stepwise directed at the sample reducing the overall abundance of background chemicals introduced into the ionizing region. In an embodiment of the present ambient ionization experiment, the combination of stepping the sample in front of the excited species and pulsing the carrier gas used to generate the excited species increases the sensitivity of detection.

This disclosure presents inventions for ionization, for example, for use in mass spectrometer devices and methods. In an embodiment, a device is provided for introduction of pulses of a first carrier gas into an ionization chamber and introduction of a second carrier gas into the ionization chamber. Electrodes in the chamber ionize the carrier gas and direct the ionized gas toward a sample for analysis. The second carrier gas can either assist in washing out the first carrier gas or may become ionized along with the first carrier gas to improve ionization of an analyte. In an embodiment, a method for producing ionized carrier gasses is provided.

In an embodiment of the present ambient ionization experiment, the abundance of background chemicals relative to ions of interest is decreased by pulsing the carrier gas used to generate the excited species directed at the sample. The excited species are stepwise directed at the sample reducing the overall abundance of background chemicals introduced into the ionizing region. In an embodiment of the present ambient ionization experiment, the combination of stepping the sample in front of the excited species and pulsing the carrier gas used to generate the excited species increases the sensitivity of detection.

The invention relates to a method for the spectrometry, in particular mass spectrometry, ion-mobility spectrometry, or optical emission spectroscopy, of a sample, comprising the following steps: providing a solid-state generator for generating a high-frequency signal, having a control element for varying the power and/or frequency of the signal, providing a plasma ignition head fed by the signal for generating a plasma jet, applying the plasma jet to a sample, performing a first measuring operation, wherein the plasma jet is generated with a first power of the solid-state generator and a spectrum emitted by the sample, preferably charged ions and/or optical spectrum, is recorded by means of a spectrometer, wherein the first power leads to a soft ionization of the sample, and performing a second measuring operation on the same sample, wherein the plasma jet is generated with a second power of the solid-state generator and a spectrum emitted by the sample, preferably charged atoms and/or optical spectrum, is recorded by means of the spectrometer, wherein the second power leads to a hard ionization of the sample.

Improvements to a side-on Penning trap include methods to stabilize ions in the trap. The ions are stabilized by injecting ions in the focusing region of the non-uniform DC fields produced by the pad electrodes of the trap. Ions are injected along an injection axis shifted from the central axis of a gap between a positively biased electrode pad and negatively biased electrode pad of the trap. Improvements also include methods to compensate for the Lorentz force that is produced when ions are injected into a side-on Penning trap. Electrodes of an ion injection device are DC biased so that the electrodes produce an electric field along the axis of the device that compensates for the Lorentz force. Finally, methods are provided to increase the m/z range of ions injected into a side-on Penning trap by pre-trapping ions just before injection of the ions into the trap.