Ion generation in mass spectrometers by cluster bombardment

US9263223B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Michael Duerr · Mannheim, DE
• Christoph Gebhardt · Bremen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 25, 2013
• Grant date: Feb 16, 2016
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01J49/142
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to devices and methods in mass spectrometers for the generation of ions of heavy molecules, especially biomolecules, by bombarding them with uncharged clusters of molecules. The analyte ions which are generated or released by cluster bombardment of analyte substances on the surface of sample support plates show a broad distribution of their kinetic energies, which prevents good ion-optical focusing. In the invention, the kinetic energies are homogenized in a higher-density collision gas. The collision gas is preferably located in an RF ion guide, more preferably an RF ion funnel, which can transfer the ions to the mass analyzer. The collision gas may be introduced with temporal pulsing, coordinated or synchronized with the pulsed supersonic gas jet. The collision gas may be pumped off again before the next supersonic gas pulse. In an advantageous embodiment, the collision gas can originate from the supersonic gas jet itself.