title: Multimodal Vacuum-Assisted Plasma Ion (VaPI) Source with Transmission Mode and Laser Ablation Sampling Capabilities.
abstract: We have developed a multimodal ion source design that can be configured on the fly for various analysis modes, designed for more efficient and reproducible sampling at the mass spectrometer atmospheric pressure (AP) interface in a number of different applications. This vacuum-assisted plasma ionization (VaPI) source features interchangeable transmission mode and laser ablation sampling geometries. Operating in both AC and DC power regimes with similar results, the ion source was optimized for parameters including helium flow rate and gas temperature using transmission mode to analyze volatile standards and drug tablets. Using laser ablation, matrix effects were studied, and the source was used to monitor the products of model prebiotic synthetic reactions.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
authors.forename: Joel D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Keelor
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Farnsworth
authors.affiliation: SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA, 94043, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: L Weber
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abbott-Lyon
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. facundo.fernandez@chemistry.gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Facundo M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Fernández
keywords: Ambient plasma ionization; Laser ablation; Mass spectrometry; Prebiotic chemistry; Transmission mode