Improving mass spectrometer sensitivity using a high-pressure electrodynamic ion funnel interface.
We report on a new electrodynamic ion funnel that operates at a pressure of 30 torr with no loss of ion transmission. The enhanced performance compared with previous ion funnel designs optimized for pressures of <5 torr was achieved by reducing the ion funnel capacitance and increasing the RF drive frequency (1.7 MHz) and amplitude (100-170 V peak-to-peak). No degradation of ion transmission was observed for pressures from 2 to 30 torr. The ability to operate at higher pressure enabled a new tandem ion funnel mass spectrometer interface design that can accommodate a greater gas load (e.g., from an ESI source). When combined with a multicapillary inlet, the interface provided more efficient introduction of ions, resulting in a significant enhancement in mass spectrometer sensitivity and detection limits.
Ibrahim
Yehia
Y
Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA.
Tang
Keqi
K
Tolmachev
Aleksey V
AV
Shvartsburg
Alexandre A
AA
Smith
Richard D
RD
D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D011312:Pressure; D012212:Rheology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014159:Transducers