Ion source and mass spectrum equipment
By designing an ion source including a chamber, an ionizing mechanism and a conductive member in a mass spectrometer device, the problem of low ion collision rate in existing mass spectrometer devices is solved, and higher sensitivity is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421485020.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-28
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-06-26
AI Technical Summary
The collision rate of ions in existing mass spectrometry equipment is limited, resulting in poor sensitivity.
Design an ion source, including a chamber, an ionizing mechanism and conductive parts. The ionization mechanism forms gaseous ions in the chamber, and the conductive member applies an electric field to the chamber, so that more gaseous ions are transmitted to the outside through the outlet.
By increasing the output of gaseous ions, the collision rate of ions in the mass spectrometry equipment is improved and the sensitivity of the equipment is improved.
Smart Images
Figure CN222690631U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of mass spectrometry equipment, and in particular to an ion source and a mass spectrometry equipment. Background Art
[0002] A mass spectrometer is an instrument used to separate and detect different isotopes. The ion source, as the core of the mass spectrometer, can ionize organic solutions to form gaseous ions and output the gaseous ions to a mass analyzer, so that the mass analyzer can analyze and detect the gaseous ions.
[0003] Taking the electrospray ion source as an example, after the organic solution is introduced into the electrospray ion source, it can be ionized under the action of high voltage electricity or high voltage electric field to form ionic liquid. After the ionic liquid is atomized by high pressure, the solvent can be evaporated in the high temperature gas to form gaseous ions. However, most of the gaseous ions in the ion source are sucked away by the air pump under the guidance of gravity and airflow, and only a very small number of gaseous ions can be output to the outside of the ion source and transmitted to the mass analyzer, which also leads to a limited collision rate of ions in the mass spectrometer and poor sensitivity of the mass spectrometer. Summary of the invention
[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide an ion source and a mass spectrometer, aiming to enable the ion source to output more gaseous ions, increase the collision rate of ions in the mass spectrometer, and enhance the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer.
[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an ion source, comprising:
[0006] a main body, the main body being provided with a chamber, the chamber having an outlet;
[0007] an ionization mechanism, the ionization mechanism being at least partially located in the chamber and communicating with the chamber, the ionization mechanism being configured to convert a solution introduced into the ionization mechanism into gaseous ions in the chamber; and
[0008] A conductive member is used to apply an electric field to the chamber so that the gaseous ions in the chamber are transmitted to the outside of the chamber through the outlet under the action of the electric field.
[0009] Optionally, the mass spectrometer comprises an ion transport structure, wherein the ion transport structure carries an electric charge;
[0010] The conductive member is configured to create a voltage difference with the ion transport structure, thereby applying an electric field to the chamber.
[0011] Optionally, the ion transport structure is located outside the chamber, and the conductive member, the outlet and the ion transport structure are arranged in sequence along the transport direction of the gaseous ions.
[0012] Optionally, the conductive member and the outlet are located on opposite sides of the ionization mechanism.
[0013] Optionally, the conductive member has an inner recessed portion which is concave inwardly formed in a direction away from the outlet, and the inner recessed portion is arranged corresponding to the outlet.
[0014] Optionally, the conductive member includes:
[0015] An assembly portion connected to the main body;
[0016] The perforated portion is connected to the assembly portion, and the perforated portion is provided with a through hole, and the through hole penetrates two opposite sides of the perforated portion along the arrangement direction of the conductive member and the outlet.
[0017] Optionally, the number of the through holes is plural, so that the porous portion forms a mesh structure.
[0018] Optionally, a middle portion of the perforated portion is concave relative to the assembly portion in a direction away from the outlet.
[0019] Optionally, the conductive member is disposed in the chamber;
[0020] The ionization mechanism comprises:
[0021] an atomizing assembly connected to the chamber, the atomizing assembly being used to atomize the solution introduced into the ionizing mechanism; and
[0022] A discharge member is used to ionize the solution atomized by the atomization assembly to form gaseous ions, and the conductive member is electrically connected to the discharge member.
[0023] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a mass spectrometry device, comprising an ion source as described in the first aspect.
[0024] The embodiments of the present application provide an ion source and a mass spectrometer. Through the gaseous ions formed in the chamber by the ionization mechanism, the conductive part can apply an electric field to the chamber, so that more gaseous ions can pass through the outlet of the chamber and be transmitted to the outside of the chamber under the thrust of the electric field. That is, the ion source can output more gaseous ions, so that more gaseous ions can be transmitted to the mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer, thereby improving the ion collision rate of the mass spectrometer and enhancing the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.
[0026] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an ion source provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0027] Figure 2 A front view of an ion source provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the ion source along line AA;
[0029] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a conductive member provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0031] The flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings are only examples and do not necessarily include all the contents and operations / steps, nor must they be executed in the order described. For example, some operations / steps may also be decomposed, combined or partially merged, so the actual execution order may change according to actual conditions.
[0032] It should be understood that the terms used in this application specification are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the application. As used in this application specification and the appended claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include plural forms.
[0033] Some embodiments of the present application are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.
[0034] See also Figures 1 to 4 In the first aspect, an ion source provided by an embodiment of the present application is applied to a mass spectrometer. Specifically, the ion source includes a main body 1, an ionization mechanism 2 and a conductive member 3. The main body 1 is provided with a chamber 11, and the chamber 11 has an outlet 111. The ionization mechanism 2 is connected to the chamber 11, and the ionization mechanism 2 is used to form gaseous ions in the chamber 11 from the solution introduced into the ionization mechanism 2. The conductive member 3 is used to apply an electric field to the chamber 11 so that the gaseous ions in the chamber 11 are transmitted to the outside of the chamber 11 through the outlet 111 under the action of the electric field.
[0035] In the embodiment of the present application, the ionization mechanism 2 can convert the introduced solution into gaseous ions in the chamber 11, and the conductive member 3 is connected to a voltage, so that an electric field can be applied to the chamber 11, so that the gaseous ions in the chamber 11 can pass through the outlet 111 of the chamber 11 and be transmitted to the outside of the chamber 11 under the thrust of the electric field, so that the ion source outputs more gaseous ions, and more gaseous ions can be transmitted to the analyzer of the mass spectrometer, thereby increasing the ion collision rate of the mass spectrometer and improving the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer.
[0036] For example, the ionization mechanism 2 may use electrospray ionization or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization to convert the solution introduced into the ionization mechanism 2 into gaseous ions.
[0037] In some embodiments, the ionization mechanism 2 includes an atomization component 21 and a discharge component 22. The atomization component 21 is connected to the chamber 11, and is used to atomize the solution introduced into the ionization mechanism 2. The discharge component 22 is used to ionize the solution atomized by the atomization component 21. It can be understood that after the solution enters the atomization component 21, it is atomized by the atomization component 21 and transmitted to the chamber 11. The atomized solution is discharged by the discharge component 22 so that it is charged to form gaseous ions, thereby achieving ionization.
[0038] Exemplarily, the atomization assembly 21 may include a heating tube, and atomization is achieved by heating the solution through the heating tube.
[0039] Exemplarily, the atomizing assembly 21 and the discharge member 22 partially extend into the chamber 11 .
[0040] Furthermore, the ionization component also includes an auxiliary heating component, which is disposed in the chamber 11 and is used to heat the solution atomized by the atomization component 21 and ionized by the discharge component 22 .
[0041] In some embodiments, the mass spectrometer includes an ion transmission structure, which is charged. The conductive member 3 is configured to form a voltage difference with the ion transmission structure, thereby applying an electric field to the chamber 11. It can be understood that by controlling the voltage connected to the conductive member 3, a voltage difference is formed between the conductive member 3 and the ion transmission structure, thereby applying an electric field to the chamber 11, so that the gaseous ions pass through the outlet 111 under the thrust of the electric field and are transmitted to the ion transmission structure.
[0042] Exemplarily, if 5300V high voltage is connected to the ion transmission structure, 5500V high voltage can be connected to the conductive part 3, so that a voltage difference is formed between the conductive part 3 and the ion transmission structure, thereby forming an electric field in the chamber 11, and the gaseous ions are transmitted to the ion transmission structure through the outlet 111 under the thrust of the electric field.
[0043] like Figure 3As shown, further, the ion transport structure is located outside the chamber 11, and the conductive member 3, the outlet 111 and the ion transport structure are sequentially arranged along the transport direction of the gaseous ions. It can be understood that the ion transport structure forms gaseous ions in the chamber 11, and the conductive member 3, the outlet 111 and the ion transport structure are sequentially arranged along the transport direction of the gaseous ions, rather than the conductive member 3 being arranged between the outlet 111 and the ion transport structure, so that the gaseous ions in the chamber 11 can pass through the outlet 111 and be transported to the ion transport structure under the action of the electric field jointly formed by the conductive member 3 and the ion transport structure.
[0044] Exemplarily, the conductive member 3 may be disposed on the other side of the main body 1 opposite to the side where the outlet 111 is located, or disposed on the side of the main body 1 adjacent to the side where the outlet 111 is located.
[0045] Furthermore, the ion transmission structure is formed with an ion transmission channel, one end of which is connected to the outlet 111, and the other end is used to communicate with the analyzer. It can be understood that the gaseous ions in the chamber 11 enter the ion transmission channel through the outlet 111 and are transmitted to the analyzer under the action of the ion transmission structure.
[0046] Exemplarily, the ion transmission structure may use four, six or eight electrode rods. The multiple electrode rods are distributed in an annular direction, and the central area between the multiple electrode rods forms an ion transmission channel. By using the multiple electrode rods as positive and negative electrodes, an electric field is formed in the ion transmission channel, so that the gaseous ions transmitted from the outlet 111 of the chamber 11 are transmitted to the analyzer under the action of the electric field in the ion transmission channel. The conductive member 3 forms a voltage difference with the multiple electrode rods of the ion transmission structure, thereby applying an electric field to the chamber 11, so that the gaseous ions in the chamber 11 are transmitted to the outside of the chamber 11 through the outlet 11.
[0047] In some embodiments, the conductive member 3 and the outlet 111 are respectively located on opposite sides of the ionization mechanism 2. In this way, the gaseous ions formed by the ionization mechanism 2 in the chamber 11 are located between the conductive member 3 and the outlet 111. This not only ensures that the thrust of the electric field applied by the conductive member 3 in the chamber 11 on the gaseous ions is large enough to enable more gaseous ions to overcome gravity or be transmitted to the outlet 111 and pass through the outlet 111, but also the conductive member 3 is not located on the transmission path of the gaseous ions, and the gaseous ions will not be blocked by the conductive member 3, so that more gaseous ions can be transmitted to the outside of the chamber 11 through the outlet 111.
[0048] Exemplarily, the conductive member 3 is disposed corresponding to the outlet 111 of the chamber 11 .
[0049] Exemplarily, the shape of the conductive member 3 matches the shape of the outlet 111, and the size of the conductive member 3 matches the size of the outlet 111. Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the outlet 111 of the chamber 11 is a circular outlet 111 , the conductive member 3 is a circular structure, and along the direction from the conductive member 3 to the outlet 111 , the size of the conductive member 3 is approximately the size of the outlet 111 of the chamber 11 .
[0050] In some embodiments, the conductive member 3 has a concave portion that is concave inwardly in a direction away from the outlet 111, and the concave portion is arranged corresponding to the outlet 111. By making the conductive member 3 concave inwardly in a direction away from the outlet 111 to form the concave portion, it is beneficial to superimpose the electric field applied by the conductive member 3 to the chamber 11, thereby enhancing the electric field strength, so that more gaseous ions can overcome gravity or suction and be transmitted to the outlet 111 and pass through the outlet 111.
[0051] Exemplarily, the lowest point of the inner concave portion is disposed adjacent to the center of the inner concave portion, that is, the center position of the inner concave portion is most concave compared to the peripheral position.
[0052] Exemplarily, the inner concave surface of the inner concave portion may be a spherical surface or a parabolic surface. Preferably, the inner concave surface is a spherical surface.
[0053] In some embodiments, the ionization mechanism 2 has a nozzle connected to the chamber 11, and the projection of the nozzle at the inner recess is arranged near the center of the conductive member 3, and the projection of the nozzle at the outlet 111 is arranged near the center of the outlet 111. In this way, the ions entering the chamber 11 from the nozzle can be affected by the electric field applied by the conductive member 3 in the chamber 11 after dispersion, so as to be transmitted to the outlet 111 and pass through the outlet 111 under the thrust of the electric field.
[0054] In some embodiments, the conductive member 3 includes an assembly portion 31 and a perforated portion 32. The assembly portion 31 is connected to the main body 1. The perforated portion 32 is connected to the assembly portion 31, and the perforated portion 32 is provided with a through hole 321, which passes through the two opposite sides of the perforated portion 32 along the arrangement direction of the conductive member 3 and the outlet 111. By providing the through hole 321 in the perforated portion 32, it is convenient for the staff to observe the reaction inside the chamber 11 through the through hole 321. At the same time, the provision of the perforated portion 32 is conducive to enhancing the electric field strength applied by the conductive member 3 to the chamber 11, so that more gaseous ions can overcome gravity or suction and be transmitted to the outlet 111 and pass through the outlet 111.
[0055] For example, Figure 3 As shown, a window area 12 is provided on the side of the main body 1 located away from the outlet 111 of the conductive member 3, and the window area 12 is provided corresponding to the through hole 321 of the perforated portion 32, so as to observe the reaction inside the chamber 11 through the window area 12 and the through hole 321. For example, the conductive member 3 is located in the chamber 11, and a slot communicating with the chamber 11 is provided on the main body 1, and a glass plate can be snapped between the slot and the cover plate connected to the main body 1 to form the window area 12, so that the chamber 11 can be observed through the glass plate and the through hole 321 of the conductive member 3.
[0056] Furthermore, the assembly portion 31 is an annular structure arranged around the outer periphery of the hole portion 32. Specifically, the annular structure of the assembly portion 31 is conducive to the connection between the assembly portion 31 and the main body 1, and is also conducive to enhancing the electric field strength applied by the conductive member 3 to the chamber 11.
[0057] Exemplarily, the assembly portion 31 may be used to achieve electrical connection of the conductive member 3 .
[0058] Exemplarily, the assembly portion 31 is bent relative to the hole portion 32 toward the outlet 111 to form an annular structure, and the assembly portion 31 can fit with the wall surface of the chamber 11 of the main body 1 so that the assembly portion 31 and the main body 1 are snap-fitted.
[0059] Exemplarily, the thickness of the perforated portion 32 is consistent at all locations, and the thickness of the assembly portion 31 is consistent at all locations, which helps to ensure that the charge of the conductive member 3 is uniform, making the electric field formed by the conductive member 3 more stable and controllable.
[0060] Furthermore, the assembly part 31 is connected to the main body 1 through a fastener. For example, the assembly part 31 can be connected to the main body 1 through a fastener such as a screw or a bolt, so that the conductive member 3 is stably fixed on the main body 1.
[0061] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the number of through holes 321 includes multiple ones, so that the porous part 32 forms a mesh structure. It can be understood that the porous part 32 forms a mesh structure, and the aperture of the through holes 321 can be properly controlled, so that the staff can clearly observe the reaction inside the chamber 11 through the multiple through holes 321, and the conduction on the porous part 32 can be more uniform, so that the electric field applied to the chamber 11 is more stable and controllable.
[0062] Exemplarily, the plurality of through holes 321 are all circular holes of the same size, and the plurality of through holes 321 penetrate two opposite sides of the hole portion 32 .
[0063] Exemplarily, the plurality of through holes 321 are evenly spaced and arranged along the circumference of circles with different radii with the center of the hole portion 32 as the center, forming a plurality of concentric circle structures.
[0064] In some embodiments, the middle of the hole portion 32 is concave relative to the assembly portion 31 in a direction away from the outlet 111. It can be understood that the concave middle of the hole portion 32 is conducive to superimposing the electric field applied by the conductive member 3 to the chamber 11, thereby enhancing the electric field strength applied by the conductive member 3 to the chamber 11.
[0065] In some embodiments, the conductive member 3 is disposed in the chamber 11. The conductive member 3 is disposed in the chamber 11, which is conducive to enhancing the electric field strength applied by the conductive member 3 to the chamber 11, so that more gaseous ions can be transmitted to the outside of the chamber 11 through the outlet 111 under the action of the electric field.
[0066] Exemplarily, the main body 1 includes a first main body portion 13 and a second main body portion 14, and the chamber 11 includes a first cavity 111a provided in the first main body portion 13 and a second cavity 111b provided in the second main body portion 14, the first cavity 111a is connected to the second cavity 111b, and the first cavity 111a has an outlet 111. The ionization mechanism 2 is at least partially located in the first cavity 111a and is connected to the first cavity 111a, and the ionization mechanism 2 can form gaseous ions in the first cavity 111a. The conductive member 3 is provided in the second cavity 111b, and the conductive member 3 can be spaced apart from the ionization mechanism 2, and can apply an electric field to the first cavity 111a, so that the gaseous ions are transmitted to the outside of the chamber 11 through the outlet 111 under the thrust of the electric field.
[0067] Exemplarily, an insulating layer is provided on the outer periphery of the first main body portion 13 to reduce the impact of the electrical connection of the conductive member 3 on the external environment.
[0068] Exemplarily, the first cavity 111a has an outlet 111 on a side facing away from the second cavity 111b, and the outlet 111 is connected to the ion transport structure.
[0069] Exemplarily, the first body portion 13 and the second body portion 14 are sealed and connected via a sealing member.
[0070] In other embodiments, the conductive member 3 may also be spaced apart from the chamber 11 .
[0071] In some embodiments, the conductive member 3 is electrically connected to the ionization mechanism 2. It can be understood that the ionization mechanism 2 is powered so as to ionize the solution introduced into the ionization mechanism 2. By directly electrically connecting the conductive member 3 to the ionization mechanism 2, the electrical connection structure of the ion source can be simplified.
[0072] Further, the conductive member 3 is electrically connected to the discharge member 22. It can be understood that the discharge member 22 is connected to a high voltage to ionize the atomized solution, and the conductive member 3 can be electrically connected to the discharge member 22 so that the conductive member 3 is connected to a high voltage to apply an electric field to the chamber 11.
[0073] Exemplarily, the discharge member 22 is a discharge needle, the tip of which discharges electricity, and the assembly portion 31 of the conductive member 3 can be electrically connected to the tip of the discharge member 22 through a wire.
[0074] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a mass spectrometer, comprising the ion source as described in the first aspect. The mass spectrometer having the above ion source can enable the ion source to output more gaseous ions, thereby enabling more gaseous ions to be transmitted to the analyzer of the mass spectrometer, thereby increasing the ion collision rate of the mass spectrometer and improving the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer.
[0075] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in the present specification and the appended claims refers to any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, including these combinations. It should be noted that, in this article, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or system including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or system. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "including a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or system including the element.
[0076] The serial numbers of the embodiments of the present application are only for description and do not represent the advantages and disadvantages of the embodiments. The above are only specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can easily think of various equivalent modifications or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, and these modifications or replacements should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be based on the protection scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An ion source, characterized in that: Applied to mass spectrometry equipment, including: a main body, the main body being provided with a chamber, the chamber having an outlet; an ionization mechanism, the ionization mechanism being connected to the chamber, the ionization mechanism being used to convert a solution introduced into the ionization mechanism into gaseous ions in the chamber; and A conductive member is used to apply an electric field to the chamber so that the gaseous ions in the chamber are transmitted to the outside of the chamber through the outlet under the action of the electric field.
2. The ion source according to claim 1, characterized in that The mass spectrometer device includes an ion transport structure, wherein the ion transport structure carries an electric charge; The conductive member is configured to create a voltage difference with the ion transport structure, thereby applying an electric field to the chamber.
3. The ion source according to claim 2, characterized in that The ion transport structure is located outside the chamber, and the conductive member, the outlet and the ion transport structure are arranged in sequence along the transport direction of the gaseous ions.
4. The ion source according to claim 1, characterized in that The conductive member and the outlet are respectively located on two opposite sides of the ionization mechanism.
5. The ion source according to claim 4, characterized in that The conductive member has an inner concave portion that is concave inwardly formed in a direction away from the outlet, and the inner concave portion is arranged corresponding to the outlet.
6. The ion source according to claim 1, characterized in that The conductive member comprises: An assembly portion connected to the main body; The perforated portion is connected to the assembly portion, and the perforated portion is provided with a through hole, and the through hole penetrates two opposite sides of the perforated portion along the arrangement direction of the conductive member and the outlet.
7. The ion source according to claim 6, characterized in that The number of the through holes includes a plurality, so that the porous portion forms a mesh structure.
8. The ion source according to claim 6, characterized in that The middle portion of the hole portion is concave relative to the fitting portion toward a direction away from the outlet.
9. The ion source according to claim 1, characterized in that The conductive member is disposed in the chamber; The ionization mechanism comprises: an atomizing assembly, connected to the chamber, and used for atomizing the solution introduced into the ionizing mechanism; A discharge member is used to ionize the solution atomized by the atomization assembly to form gaseous ions, and the conductive member is electrically connected to the discharge member.
10. A mass spectrometry device, characterized in that: Comprising the ion source as described in any one of claims 1-9.