Enhanced ion utilization efficiency using an electrodynamic ion funnel trap as an injection mechanism for ion mobility spectrometry

Anal Chem. 2008 Feb 1;80(3):612-23. doi: 10.1021/ac701648p. Epub 2008 Jan 1.

Abstract

Conventional ion mobility spectrometers that sample ion packets from continuous sources have traditionally been constrained by an inherently low duty cycle. As such, ion utilization efficiencies have been limited to <1% in order to maintain instrumental resolving power. Using a modified electrodynamic ion funnel, we demonstrated the ability to accumulate, store, and eject ions in conjunction with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), which elevated the charge density of the ion packets ejected from the ion funnel trap (IFT) and provided a considerable increase in the overall ion utilization efficiency of the IMS instrument. A 7-fold increase in signal intensity was revealed by comparing continuous ion beam current with the amplitude of the pulsed ion current in IFT-IMS experiments using a Faraday plate. Additionally, we describe the IFT operating characteristics using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer attached to the IMS drift tube.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biopolymers / analysis*
  • Biopolymers / chemistry
  • Ion Transport*
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Peptides / analysis*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / instrumentation
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Biopolymers
  • Ions
  • Peptides