A micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge

Abstract

The application provides a micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge. The application comprises a dielectric tube, an outer electrode, a spiral inner electrode, an inner lining tube and interface structures at two ends. The spiral inner electrode and the inner lining tube are fixed inside the dielectric tube through the first interface structure and the second interface structure arranged at the two ends of the dielectric tube. The outer wall of the dielectric tube is attached to the outer electrode. The outer electrode, the dielectric tube and the spiral inner electrode constitute a dielectric barrier discharge device. In the working state, the first interface structure and the second interface structure are connected to a power supply to generate dielectric barrier discharge. The first interface structure is used for feeding working gas into the dielectric tube. By setting a reasonable electrode configuration and a working gas flow path, the device can obtain a higher ionization efficiency under a lower voltage condition. At the same time, without an additional cooling device, the device temperature can be maintained at a lower state only by the flow of working gas. The device is suitable for application in a high-performance miniaturized analysis system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of instrumental analysis technology, and in particular to a miniature ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge. Background Technology

[0002] Dielectric barrier discharge is a form of gas discharge in which an insulating dielectric is placed in a discharge space. It can stably generate low-temperature plasma under atmospheric pressure, and therefore has wide applications in ionization, ozone generation, surface modification, sterilization and disinfection.

[0003] Ionization devices, which convert neutral molecules into ions, are often referred to as ion sources. They play a crucial role in analytical instruments such as mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry, and their performance directly affects the sensitivity, analytical range, and stability of the instrument. Ionization sources based on dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) are widely used in the analysis of nonpolar compounds because they do not require additional vacuum devices, have a simple structure, and are low in cost. Their basic principle is to ionize the working gas using DBD to generate reagent ions, and then ionize the analyte molecule through an ion-molecule reaction.

[0004] Existing technologies all use bulk dielectric barrier discharge structures, which increase the discharge voltage and thus raise the power supply requirements. Furthermore, excessively high discharge voltages lead to increased discharge temperatures. Both of these factors hinder the miniaturization of the overall system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, a miniature ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge is provided. This invention cleverly achieves high ion generation efficiency at low voltage through a specific structural design, while its elimination of the need for additional heat dissipation devices facilitates integration into miniaturized systems. By setting a reasonable electrode configuration and working gas flow path, the device can achieve high ionization efficiency under relatively low voltage conditions. Furthermore, without the need for additional cooling devices, the device temperature can be maintained at a low level solely through the flow of the working gas. This device is suitable for application in high-performance miniaturized analytical systems. The technical means employed in this invention are as follows:

[0006] A miniature ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge includes a dielectric tube, an outer electrode, a spiral inner electrode, an inner liner tube, and interface structures at both ends. The spiral inner electrode and the inner liner tube are fixed inside the dielectric tube by a first interface structure and a second interface structure disposed at both ends of the dielectric tube. The outer electrode is attached to the outer wall of the dielectric tube. The outer electrode, the dielectric tube, and the spiral inner electrode constitute a dielectric barrier discharge device. In the working state, the first interface structure and the second interface structure are connected to an external power source to generate dielectric barrier discharge. The first interface structure is used to introduce working gas into the dielectric tube.

[0007] Furthermore, the outer electrode and the spiral inner electrode are made of one or more of stainless steel, spring steel, or copper.

[0008] Furthermore, the dielectric tube is made of one or more of glass, quartz, ceramic, or mica.

[0009] Furthermore, the inner liner is made of an insulating polymer material.

[0010] Furthermore, both the first and second interface structures are made of metal.

[0011] Furthermore, the first interface structure and the second interface structure are bonded to the medium tube at the connection point using sealant.

[0012] Furthermore, the working gas includes one or more of air, dry air, nitrogen, helium, argon, or krypton, and the carrier gas flow rate is adjustable.

[0013] The present invention has the following advantages:

[0014] 1. In this invention, a spiral electrode located on the inner wall of the dielectric layer is used as the inner electrode for dielectric barrier discharge. Through the clamping effect of the designed two-end interfaces, the spiral inner electrode can be guaranteed to have gapless contact with the inner wall of the dielectric layer.

[0015] 2. Both ends of the interface serve as the wiring terminals for the inner electrode of the spiral, resulting in a compact structure.

[0016] 3. The commonly used bulk dielectric barrier discharge form is changed to a surface dielectric barrier discharge form which is more conducive to miniaturization applications, and dielectric barrier discharge can be generated at a lower discharge voltage.

[0017] 4. Fix a solid inner liner tube at the center of the spiral inner electrode to change the internal gas path structure of the dielectric barrier discharge tube, so that the gas flow area coincides with the discharge area, thereby improving the ion efficiency generated by the discharge.

[0018] 5. The increased airflow linear velocity and lower discharge voltage through the inner liner tube result in a decrease in the overall temperature of the dielectric tube.

[0019] 6. This device has a compact structure, low power requirements, high ionization efficiency, and low heat dissipation requirements, making it suitable for miniaturized applications. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge of the present invention.

[0022] In the figure: 1. First interface structure; 2. Dielectric tube; 3. Inner liner tube; 4. Outer electrode; 5. Spiral inner electrode; 6. Second interface structure. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment of the invention discloses a micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge, including a dielectric tube 2, an outer electrode 4, a spiral inner electrode 5, an inner liner tube 3, and interface structures at both ends. The spiral inner electrode and the inner liner tube are fixed inside the dielectric tube by a first interface structure 1 and a second interface structure 2 set at both ends of the dielectric tube. The outer electrode 4 is attached to the outer wall of the dielectric tube 2. The outer electrode 4, the dielectric tube 2, and the spiral inner electrode 5 constitute a dielectric barrier discharge device. In the working state, the first interface structure 1 and the second interface structure 6 are connected to an external power source to generate dielectric barrier discharge. The first interface structure 1 is used to introduce working gas into the dielectric tube 2.

[0025] The outer electrode and the spiral inner electrode can be made of one or more of stainless steel, spring steel or copper, and their specific dimensional parameters can be optimized according to the application.

[0026] The dielectric tube can be made of one or more of glass, quartz, ceramic or mica, and its length, wall thickness and outer diameter can be optimized according to the usage.

[0027] The inner liner is made of an insulating polymer material, specifically any one of PEEK, PTFE or other insulating polymer materials, and its length and outer diameter can be optimized according to the usage.

[0028] The first and second interface structures are made of metal, specifically one or more conductors such as stainless steel and copper, and have ventilation gaps to facilitate gas flow.

[0029] The first interface structure and the second interface structure are bonded to the medium tube with sealant.

[0030] The working gas includes one or more of air, dry air, nitrogen, helium, argon, or krypton, and the carrier gas flow rate is adjustable.

[0031] When using the device provided in this embodiment to ionize a sample, a high-frequency AC voltage is applied between the interface and the external electrode, and the working gas is introduced into the medium tube through either end of the two interfaces, so that the working gas blown out by the device comes into contact with the sample.

[0032] In this embodiment, the cylindrical ionization device has an outer diameter of 5mm, a length of 21mm, a dielectric tube wall thickness of 0.5mm, and a gas gap of 0.5mm between the inner liner tube and the dielectric tube. It can discharge stably under an applied voltage amplitude of 3000V and a frequency of 20kHz, achieving a miniaturized design.

[0033] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A miniature ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge, characterized in that, The device includes a dielectric tube, an outer electrode, a spiral inner electrode, an inner liner tube, and interface structures at both ends. The spiral inner electrode and the inner liner tube are fixed inside the dielectric tube by a first interface structure and a second interface structure located at both ends of the dielectric tube. The outer electrode is attached to the outer wall of the dielectric tube. The outer electrode, the dielectric tube, and the spiral inner electrode constitute a dielectric barrier discharge device. In the working state, the first interface structure and the second interface structure are connected to an external power source to generate a dielectric barrier discharge. The first interface structure is used to introduce working gas into the dielectric tube. The spiral inner electrode is located on the inner wall of the dielectric tube. The pressing action of the two end interfaces ensures that the spiral inner electrode and the inner wall of the dielectric tube are in close contact without gaps. A solid inner liner tube is fixed at the center of the spiral inner electrode to change the internal gas path structure of the dielectric barrier discharge tube, so that the gas flow area coincides with the discharge area. The two end interfaces also serve as the wiring terminals of the spiral inner electrode.

2. The micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer electrode and the spiral inner electrode are made of one or more of stainless steel, spring steel, or copper.

3. The micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dielectric tube is made of one or more of the following materials: glass, quartz, ceramic, or mica.

4. The micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner liner is made of an insulating polymer material.

5. The micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first interface structure and the second interface structure are made of metal.

6. The micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The first interface structure and the second interface structure are bonded to the medium tube with sealant.

7. The micro ionization device based on dielectric barrier discharge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The working gas includes one or more of air, dry air, nitrogen, helium, argon, or krypton, and the carrier gas flow rate is adjustable.

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