Ion funnel for efficient transmission of low mass-to-charge ratio ions with reduced gas flow at the exit

摘要

A sample inlet device and methods for use of the sample inlet device are described that include an ion funnel having a plurality of electrodes with apertures arranged about an axis extending from an inlet of the ion funnel to an outlet of the ion funnel, the ion funnel including a plurality of spacer elements disposed coaxially with the plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality of spacer elements being positioned between one or two adjacent electrodes, each of the plurality of spacer elements having an aperture with a diameter that is greater than a diameter of each adjacent electrode. The ion funnel is configured to pass an ion sample through the apertures of the electrodes and the spacer elements to additional portions of a detection system, such as to a mass analyzer system and detector.

主权项

1. A mass spectrometry sample inlet device for transmission of ions generated at near atmospheric conditions, comprising:
an ion funnel configured to receive an ion sample from a sample ionizing source, the ion funnel including:
a plurality of electrodes with apertures configured for passage of sample ions arranged along a common axis extending from an inlet of the ion funnel to an outlet of the ion funnel, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is connected to a corresponding RF potential, and the RF potential applied to respective ones of the plurality of electrodes is out of phase from the RF potential applied to adjacent electrodes; anda plurality of spacer elements disposed coaxially with the plurality of electrodes, at least one of the plurality of spacer elements being positioned between two adjacent electrodes to provide an at least partially gas-tight structure, so that gas cannot escape between the at least one spacer element and the adjacent electrodes, the at least partially gas tight structure configured to create an axial gas dynamic flow at the outlet of the ion funnel.