METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING POSITIVELY AND/OR NEGATIVELY IONIZED GAS ANALYTES FOR GAS ANALYSIS

摘要

With a method for producing positively and/or negatively ionized gas analytes for gas analysis in an ion mobility or a mass spectrometer, the intention is to provide a solution which makes it possible to ionize a gas analyte without the restrictions of previous ionization methods for gas analysis in an ion mobility or in a mass spectrometer with formation of positive and/or negative ions. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the positive and/or negative gas ions are produced by a plasma (6) brought about by a dielectrically impeded discharge, wherein the dielectrically impeded discharge is produced by feeding in a noble gas through a capillary (2) composed of a dielectric material, wherein an AC voltage is applied by means of two electrically insulated electrodes (3, 4) arranged at the capillary in a manner adjoining the exit region of the capillary and the gas analyte is fed to the exit region outside the capillary.