Ionization Device with Mass Spectrometer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ionization methods in mass spectrometry, such as hot filament or glow wire electron ionization, face challenges including high temperature, high ionization energy, and susceptibility to high pressures, leading to fragmentation and filament degradation, which are not suitable for many applications, especially in organic chemistry and life sciences.
Innovation Solution
An ionization device that generates a 'cold' microplasma using a plasma generating device to produce metastable particles and ions, which are then used in a secondary plasma region to efficiently ionize gases through a glow discharge, reducing the ionization energy to approximately 20 eV and operating robustly at high analyte pressures, while avoiding the use of filaments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If hot filament or glow wire electron ionization is used, then ionization of gases is achieved, but high temperature (up to 2000°C) and high ionization energy (approximately 70 eV) cause fragmentation and filament degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the ionization mechanism from high-energy electron impact (70 eV) to low-energy metastable particle transfer, reducing ionization energy to approximately 20 eV. This parameter change in energy level prevents excessive fragmentation while maintaining effective ionization of analyte molecules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal filament system with a plasma-based metastable particle generation system. Instead of using a hot filament that physically degrades, the system uses electrical discharge to create metastable particles in a plasma region, eliminating the mechanical filament component that causes fragmentation through thermal stress
2Reliability
If hot filament is used for ionization, then ionization is achieved, but the filament is highly susceptible to high pressures (more than 10−4 mbar) leading to burning through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the vulnerable filament component from the ionization system. By using metastable particles generated in a plasma region to ionize the analyte, the system removes the filament that would otherwise be exposed to high pressure and burn through, thereby improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metastable particles as an intermediary between the plasma generation source and the analyte molecules. These metastable particles serve as the active ionizing species that transfer energy to analyte molecules without requiring a physical filament to be present in the high-pressure analyte region
3Productivity
If high ionization energy (70 eV) is used, then ionization is achieved, but excessive fragmentation occurs which is unsuitable for organic chemistry and life sciences applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the ionization energy parameter from 70 eV to approximately 20 eV by using metastable particle transfer instead of electron impact. This parameter adjustment maintains sufficient ionization efficiency for detecting analyte molecules while preserving molecular integrity and reducing fragmentation, making the technique suitable for organic chemistry and life sciences applications
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
This approach enables gentle and efficient ionization of gases with reduced fragmentation, improved robustness at high pressures, and extended filament lifespan, making it suitable for organic chemistry and life sciences applications.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma generating device for generating (charge-neutral) metastable particles and/or ions of an ionization gas in a primary plasma region
Implementation Method 2
a field generating device for generating a glow discharge in a secondary plasma region
Implementation Method 3
Some of the molecules of the gas to be ionized are ionized by the metastable particles/molecules or by the ions of the ionization gas by way of a charge exchange ionization or by way of a collision process
Data Source
AI summary
An ionization device includes: a plasma generating device for generating metastable particles and/or ions of an ionization gas in a primary plasma region; a field generating device for generating a glow discharge in a secondary plasma region; an inlet for supplying a gas to be ionized into the secondary plasma region; and a further inlet for supplying the metastable particles and/or the ions of the ionization gas into the secondary plasma region. A mass spectrometer includes such an ionization device and a detector downstream of the outlet of the ionization device for the mass-spectrometric analysis of the ionized gas.