Air-Tight Ambient Mass Spectrometry for Air-Sensitive Materials
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Characterization of air-sensitive materials is challenging due to decomposition during transfer and the need for solvent application, which alters their structure in conventional analytical methods.
Innovation Solution
An air-tight chamber system is used to perform mass spectrometry, generating ions via direct current voltage and introducing a carrier gas to collect and analyze ions without solvents, allowing non-destructive characterization of elemental and chemical composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional analytical methods (NMR, MS) are used to characterize air-sensitive materials, then structural information can be obtained, but the material structure changes due to solvent application and air exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an air-tight chamber that maintains an inert atmosphere (vacuum or inert gas) during the entire mass spectrometry analysis process. This prevents air-sensitive materials from decomposing or reacting with atmospheric components, thereby preserving the material's original structure while enabling accurate structural characterization through MS analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need for solvent extraction by performing direct mass spectrometry analysis of air-sensitive materials in their native solid state within the air-tight chamber. This removes the harmful solvent application step that traditionally caused structural changes, while still obtaining detailed structural information through direct ionization and detection of the material components.
2Measurement precision
If materials are transferred from glovebox to analytical instruments, then characterization can be performed, but decomposition occurs during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sample preparation environment (glovebox) with the analysis environment (mass spectrometer) by using an air-tight chamber that can be sealed and transferred. This integration allows materials to remain in their inert atmosphere environment throughout the entire process from preparation to analysis, eliminating decomposition during transfer while maintaining full characterization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-tight chamber serves as an intermediary device that bridges the glovebox environment and the mass spectrometer analysis system. It maintains the inert atmosphere conditions during transfer and analysis, acting as a protective mediator that prevents material decomposition while enabling the characterization process to proceed.
3Loss of information
If solvents are applied for analysis, then molecular information can be obtained, but chemical reactions occur that change material identity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the solvent application step entirely from the analysis process by performing direct mass spectrometry on air-sensitive materials in the solid state within the air-tight chamber. This extraction of the harmful solvent step eliminates chemical reactions that would change material identity, while molecular information is still obtained through direct ionization and mass spectral analysis of the material components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables non-destructive, solvent-free analysis of air-sensitive materials, providing molecular-level information on their composition and structure, particularly resolving the composition of the solid electrolyte interphase in Lithium-Ion batteries.
Implementation Method 1
supplying a direct current voltage to an electrode proximate to the material to generate ions in the air-tight chamber
Implementation Method 2
introducing a carrier gas to the air-tight chamber at the inlet; and collecting the carrier gas and the ions at the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method. In one implementation, the method includes providing a material in an air-tight chamber defining an inlet and an outlet; supplying a direct current voltage to an electrode proximate to the material to generate ions in the air-tight chamber; introducing a carrier gas to the air-tight chamber at the inlet; and collecting the carrier gas and the ions at the outlet.