阶梯电极离子阱质量分析器的结构与性能

本研究从理论上优化了一种新型结构的线型离子阱质量分析器-阶梯电极离子阱质量分析器,它是由2对阶梯电极与1对端盖电极组成。与传统平板电极矩形离子阱长阶梯电极离子阱相比,具有调节电场分布的优点,同时在几何结构设计上更接近于双曲面电极结构,但比双曲面电极更容易加工。通过改变阶梯电极结构的高度、宽度、场半径比例等几何参数,实现了对离子阱内部电场分布的优化,从而实现离子阱性能的优化。理论模拟研究结果表明,根据几何结构和电场分布优化获得的阶梯电极离子阱质量分析器(X0×Y0=9 mm×5 mm),可以在225 Da/ s 扫速下获得10150的质量分辨率。阶梯电极离子阱结构简单,分辨能力明显高于矩形离子阱。初步的实验结果表明,阶梯电极离子阱具有较好的串级质谱分析性能。     

离子阱阵列的理论模拟研究

采用电脑模拟的方法对一种新型的离子阱质量分析器——离子阱阵列进行了电极结构的优化.该离子阱质量分析器为一种多通道质量分析器,可以同时对不同的离子进行储存和质量分析.本实验主要研究了该离子阱质量分析器的性能和电极结构之间的关系.通过对离子运动轨迹的计算分析,可以得到模拟的离子质谱峰.通过对模拟离子质谱峰的分析,可以区分出使得离子阱性能较优的电极结构.在对模拟质谱峰的分析中,峰形和离子弹出效率都作为性能指标被考虑.有部分模拟的数据与实验结果进行了对比.     

栅网电极离子阱质量分析器的结构与性能

报道了一种结构非常简单的新型线型离子阱质量分析器,它由4块"栅网电极"电极与2块端盖电极合围而成的一个近似于长方体的离子存储和分析空间。"栅网电极"的结构为:首先在矩形电极上加工一个"口"字型的通孔,然后再用导电的栅网覆盖住"口"字表面构成。这4块含有栅网的电极合围成一个四面对称的长方体空间,它们与二个端盖电极组成一个完整的离子阱。用栅网电极构成离子阱质量分析器具有以下优势:(1)结构非常简单。它可以极大地减小离子阱质量分析器对组成离子阱电极的机械加工精度要求,如电极对称性,离子引出孔的线性度与大小,以及对离子阱组装精度的要求,使离子阱质谱的生产工艺和使用维护更加简化;(2)由于传统离子引出电极上的离子引出槽被省去,使得离子阱电极的对称性提高,这有可能改善离子阱内部的电场分布,提高离子阱质量分析器的质谱性能;(3)由于离子引出电极的大部分为栅网,它可以成倍提高离子引出效率,提高质谱仪的分析灵敏度。初步的实验结果表明,用本工作给出的用栅网电极组成的离子阱质量分析器,当栅网宽度为4 mm时,在较低的离子共振激发电压下,即可将离子从阱中弹出,并可以获得高于400的质量分辨率和300 Thomson以上的质量扫描范围。     

三角形电极离子阱的理论模拟及性能优化

作为一种新型结构的线性离子阱,三角形电极离子阱( TeLIT)具有简单的电极结构与良好的分析性能。为进一步提高TeLIT的质谱性能,本研究考察了TeLIT的性能与电极结构的关系。利用模拟软件SIMI-ON和AXSIM分析TeLIT场半径比与其内部电场分布的关系,并模拟离子运动轨迹,得出模拟离子质谱峰。理论模拟结果表明：优化场半径比可以改善内部电场分布,并能显著提高TeLIT的质量分辨率。最终模拟得出场半径比rx/ry=5.75：5时为最优结构,在该结构下,m/z为1892 Th的离子在扫描速率为1500 Th/s时,质量分辨率可以达到8287;扫描速率降为300 Th/s时,最高质量分辨率可达23000。     

稳定图的测定与矩形离子阱质谱性能分析

从理论上讲, 离子阱质谱仪的性能是由阱内电场分布决定的,而电场分布又是由组成离子阱的电极几何结构和离子阱工作电压决定的. 对于矩形离子阱, 即使不考虑其几何结构的偏差, 其阱内的电场分布一般也很复杂. 在矩形离子阱内, 除四极电场外, 还包含多种成分的其他各种高阶场, 它们直接影响离子在阱内的运动轨迹和离子阱质谱的性能. 由于各种电场成分对离子阱内离子运动的影响非常复杂, 还很难从数学上给出精确的解析解, 使得目前从理论上还无法预测高阶场成分对质谱性能的影响. 本工作通过测定不同几何结构的矩形离子阱的稳定图, 从实验上比较了不同场半径, 即不同电场分布条件下的离子阱质谱性能的差别. 实验中, 通过改变离子阱的几何比例结构, 详细测定了不同结构的矩形离子阱的稳定图特征, 并与实验测得的质谱分析结果进行比较. 同时, 我们还详细介绍了矩形离子阱质谱的稳定图的测定方法, 并根据得到的不同情况下的稳定图结构分析了离子阱的质谱性能. 研究结果表明： 可以通过比较试验得到的稳定图结构来判断其离子阱质谱仪的性能如质量分辨能力等. 此外, 实验结果还发现： 对于y方向拉伸结构的矩形离子阱, 其实验绘制得到的是不完整的稳定图. 但根据稳定图边界的特点, 通过采用四极直流电压调制的方法, 可以对y方向拉伸结构的矩形离子阱的性能进行改善, 极大地提高了阱的质量分辨能力.     

半圆弧面线性离子阱性能优化的模拟研究

半圆弧面线性离子阱具有电极结构简单、便于加工和安装精度高等优点。为进一步提升半圆弧面线性离子阱的分析性能,本研究在实验室原有半圆弧面线性离子阱的基础上提出了一种四面开槽的半圆弧面线性离子阱,并对其电极半径与场半径之比r/r0以及离子出射方向上电极的“拉伸”距离进行了优化。模拟结果表明：当r/r0=5：5,离子出射方向上的电极向外“拉伸”0.8~1.2 mm时,离子阱的性能有较大提升,尤其是“拉伸”距离为0.9 mm时所得质量分辨率最高,当扫描速率为409 Da/s时, m/z=609 Da的离子质量分辨率可达到6264( M/△M, FWHM)。作为对比,本研究同时对双曲面线性离子阱的性能进行了仿真优化,结果表明,经过优化后的半圆弧面线性离子阱的性能可与双曲面线性离子阱相媲美。     

印刷线路板分压离子阱的离子单向出射性能研究

印刷线路板(Printed-Circuit-Board,PCB)分压离子阱是一种新型质量分析器,其突出优点在于内部电场可通过调节射频分压比进行优化.本实验在PCB分压离子阱离子出射方向的两组离散电极上配置了非对称的射频分压,以引入奇次阶场成分,使得射频电场的场中心(即离子运动中心)发生偏移,从而实现离子单向出射.通过数值计算软件SIMION和AXSIM分析了射频分压比差值与其内部电场分布的关系,并模拟离子运动轨迹,得到离子出射情况和模拟质谱峰.模拟结果表明,当两组离散电极的射频分压比差值为20％时,在合适的AC频率条件下,对于m/z=609 Th的离子,PCB分压离子阱的离子单向出射率可达90％以上,且质量分辨率大于2500.本研究可使PCB分压离子阱在基本不损失质量分辨率和使用单检测器模式下,大幅提高离子检测效率,因而在小型化质谱仪应用中具有显著优势.     

气相色谱矩形离子阱质谱联用仪的设计与性能

气相色谱离子阱质谱联用仪(GC-ITMS)广泛地应用于药物分析、环境分析、农药检测和食品分析、有机化学品分析、毒品分析以及医学和生物分析等领域。离子阱质谱作为色谱的检测器,决定了色质联用仪的分析性能,包括检出限、分辨率。离子阱质量分析器从传统的双曲型3D离子阱发展到2D线性离子阱,质量歧视效应得到了极大的改善,灵敏度得到了提高。矩形离子阱作为线性离子阱,结构简单,加工和装配容易,因此应用到GCMS系统中将具有非常大的优势。介绍了矩形离子阱质谱仪的设计方案、仪器整机的性能测试、质量分辨和质量歧视效应分析,与Agilent6890组成GCMS联用仪,对实际样品进行了分析。     

一种基于数值分析的矩形离子阱仿真优化方法

提出了一种对矩形离子阱进行仿真设计和优化的方法。该方法以数值分析为基础,对离子在矩形离子阱中的运动进行分析,得到相应的离子运动二阶微分方程。然后使用数值分析的Runge-Kutta法,对此二阶微分方程进行求解,可以得到理想状态下离子在离子阱中稳定的条件,从而完成对矩形离子阱的设计和优化。采用本方法,设计并优化了一种矩形离子阱,质量范围最大为260 amu/e,使用乙醇作为目标样品,紫外灯源作为离子源,法拉第筒作为检测器,对该矩形离子阱进行了质谱实验,成功得到了质谱结果,验证了所提出的数值分析仿真优化方法的实用性和正确性。本方法简单易行,便于修改,针对性强,可对多个参数使用循环遍历的方式来寻找最优值,特别适用于对未知结构或参数的探索研究。以此方法为基础可开发离子运动仿真软件,有很好的应用前景。     

离子阱质量分析器中直流电压驱动的串级质谱分析方法

本发明属于质谱分析测试技术领域,具体为离子阱质量分析器中直流电压驱动的串级质谱分析方法。本发明方法具体包括离子选择隔离、碰撞诱导解离和质量分析三个阶段。在碰撞诱导解离阶段,通过在离子阱质量分析器电极上施加非对称波形射频工作电压,使得在离子阱中心产生偏置直流电压。此偏置直流电压使得被隔离的具有一定质荷比的母体离子偏离离子阱束缚中心获得能量而被激发。被激发到高能量状态的离子,可以与与离子阱中的中性分子发生碰撞并解离,实现串级质谱分析。本发明不需要额外的直流电源,仅通过软件的控制即可实现偏置直流电压,实现时序控制,可以显著简化实验装置和方法。     

A novel high-performance fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance cell for improved biopolymer characterization

A new trapped ion cell design for use with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry is described. The design employs 15 cylindrical ring electrodes to generate trapping potential wells and 32 separately assignable rod electrodes for excitation and detection. The rod electrodes are positioned internal to the ring electrodes and provide excitation fields that are thereby linearized along the magnetic field over the entire trapped ion volume. The new design also affords flexibility in the shaping of the trapping field using the 15 ring electrodes. Many different trapping well shapes can be generated by applying different voltages to the individual ring electrodes, ranging from quadratic to linearly ramped along the magnetic field axis, to a shape that is nearly flat over the entire trap volume, but rises very steeply near the ends of the trap. This feature should be useful for trapping larger ion populations and extension of the useful range of ion manipulation and dissociation experiments since the number of stages of ion manipulation or dissociation is limited in practice by the initial trapped ion population size. Predicted trapping well shapes for two different ring electrode configurations are presented, and these and several other possible configurations are discussed, as are the predicted excitation fields based on the use of rod electrodes internal to the trapping ring electrodes. Initial results are presented from an implementation of the design using a 3.5 T superconducting magnet. It was found that ions can be successfully trapped and detected with this cell design and that selected ion accumulation can be performed with the utilization of four rods for quadrupolar excitation. The initial results presented here illustrate the feasibility of this cell design and demonstrate differences in observed performance based upon different trapping well shapes.     

Experimental evaluation of a hyperbolic ion trap for fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The Penning ion trap, consisting of hyperbolically curved electrodes arranged as an unbroken ring electrode capped by two end electrodes whose interelectrode axis lies along the direction of an applied static magnetic field, has long been used for single-ion trapping. More recently, it has been used in “parametric” mode for ion cyclotron resonance (lCR) detection of off-axis ions. In this article, we describe and test a Penning trap whose ring electrode has been cut into four equal quadrants for conventional dipolar ICR excitation (on one pair of opposed ring quadrants) and dipolar ICR detection (on the other pair). In direct comparisons to a cubic trap, the present hyperbolic trap offers somewhat improved ICR mass spectral peak shape, higher mass resolving power, and comparable frequency shift as a function of trapping voltage. Mass measurement accuracy over a wide mass range is improved twofold and mass discrimination is somewhat worse than for a cubic trap. The relative advantages of parametric, dipolar, and quadrupole modes are briefly discussed in comparison to screened and unscreened cubic traps.     

Novel linear ion trap mass analyzer composed of four planar electrodes

A novel linear ion trap mass analyzer was developed using just four elongated planar electrodes, mounted in parallel, and employing an RF potential for ion trapping in the radial and axial directions. Mass analysis was achieved using the mass-selective instability scan with ion ejection in the radial direction. The performance of this new device was characterized in comparison with the 6-electrode rectilinear ion trap (RIT) from which it is derived. The 4-electrode trap gives optimum performance in an asymmetric geometry, just like the original optimized 6-electrode RIT. The strong RF fringing fields at the ends of the RF rods account for axial ion trapping without use of extra electrodes or an axial DC voltage. Field calculations and simulations have been carried out to study the trapping potential inside RITs with various configurations. Demonstrated capabilities include analysis of externally injected ions with mass resolution in excess of 1000 and a mass/charge range of 650 Th as well as tandem mass spectrometry capabilities. The geometric simplicity and performance characteristics of the 4-electrode RIT make it particularly attractive in the development of next generation miniaturized mass spectrometers.     

Miniature toroidal radio frequency ion trap mass analyzer

A miniature ion trap mass analyzer is reported. The described analyzer is a 1/5-scale version of a previously reported toroidal radio frequency (rf) ion trap mass analyzer. The toroidal ion trap operates with maximum rf trapping voltages about 1 kVp-p or less; however despite the reduced dimensions, it retains roughly the same ion trapping capacity as conventional 3D quadrupole ion traps. The curved geometry provides for a compact mass analyzer. Unit-mass resolved mass spectra for n-butylbenzene, xenon, and naphthalene are reported and preliminary sensitivity data are shown for naphthalene. The expected linear mass scale with rf amplitude scan is obtained when scanned using a conventional mass-selective instability scan mode combined with resonance ejection.     

Novel ion traps using planar resistive electrodes: Implications for miniaturized mass analyzers

In radiofrequency ion traps, electric fields are produced by applying time-varying potentials between machined metal electrodes. The electrode shape constitutes a boundary condition and defines the field shape. This paper presents a new approach to making ion traps in which the electrodes consist of two ceramic discs, the facing surfaces of which are lithographically imprinted with sets of concentric metal rings and overlaid with a resistive material. A radial potential function can be applied to the resistive material such that the potential between the plates is quadrupolar, and ions are trapped between the plates. The electric field is independent of geometry and can be optimized electronically. The trap can produce any trapping field geometry, including both a toroidal trapping geometry and the traditional Paul-trap field. Dimensionally smaller ion trajectories, as would be produced in a miniaturized ion trap, can be achieved by increasing the potential gradient on the resistive material and operating the trap at higher frequency, rather than by making any physical changes to the trap or the electrodes. Obstacles to miniaturization of ion traps, such as fabrication tolerances, surface smoothness, electrode alignment, limited access for ionization or ion injection, and small trapping volume are addressed using this design.     

Trajectory compensation in an autoresonant trap mass spectrometer

The auto-resonant trap mass spectrometer, ART-MS, utilizes electrostatic ion trapping within an anharmonic potential well. Ions are detected after mass selective trap ejection with auto-resonant driving employing only low-power rf electronics. We identify the major limiting factor in the mass resolution of these instruments. Whilst keeping in the spirit of maintaining a rapid scan rate, low cost, lightweight instrument, with minimal required machining tolerances, we introduce a method for much improving the mass resolutions of an ART-MS. The addition of two electrodes has enabled an improvement in the mass resolution by a factor of ～4. The scheme significantly reduces the effects of a finite sized trap and compensates for the influence of radial variation in natural oscillating frequencies within the trap. Compensation can be implemented with a wide range of designs and is not limited by the size of the trap.     

Some properties of ion trajectories in the radial plane of an axially symmetric ion trap

In this article we analyse the trajectories of externally generated ions injected in the radial plane into the ion trap. The shape of the envelope curves for two-dimensional (2D) ion trajectories is determined. Conditions under which these envelope curves can be transformed into circles are found. We show that the amplitude of ion oscillations is a minimum in this case and that this mode corresponds to optimised ion trapping conditions. Also we discuss a ring-shaped ion trap mass spectrometer electrode system which consists of two ring electrodes, and which utilises ion trajectories with circular envelope curves.     

Development and Investigation of a Mesh-Electrode Linear Ion Trap (ME-LIT) Mass Analyzer

A mesh-electrode linear ion trap (ME-LIT) mass analyzer was developed and its performance was primarily characterized. In conventional linear ion trap mass analyzers, the trapped ions are mass-selected and then ejected in a radial direction by a slot on a trap electrode. The presence of slots can strongly affect the electric field distribution in the ion trapping region and distort the mass analysis performance. To compensate for detrimental electric field effects, the slot is usually designed and fabricated to be as small as possible, and also has very high mechanical accuracy and symmetry. A ME-LIT with several mesh electrodes was built to compensate for the effects caused by slots. Each mesh electrode was fabricated from a plate electrode with a relatively large slot and the slot was covered with a conductive mesh. Our preliminary experimental results show that the ME-LIT could considerably diminish the detrimental electric field effects caused by slots, and increase the mass resolving power and ion detection efficiency. Even with 4-mm-wide slots, a mass resolution in excess of 600 was obtained using the ME-LIT. Mass resolution could be remarkably improved using mesh electrodes in ion traps with asymmetric electrodes. The stability diagram of the ME-LIT was mapped, and highly efficient tandem mass spectrometry was demonstrated. The ME-LIT was qualified as a LIT mass analyzer. The ME-LIT can improve the mass resolution and decrease the requirements of mechanical accuracy and symmetry of slots, so it shows potential for a wide range of practical uses.

Simulation of the Collisional Cooling Effect in a Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

Examination of the collisional cooling effect of the buffer gases on ion trapping and detection in an ion trap mass spectrometer has been undertaken by the SIMION 3D program. Computation for the kinetic energy of ions under various conditions was used to account for the effects of collisional cooling of ions. Several parameters that may affect the collisional cooling effects of ions are evaluated including the existence and the variation of pressure of the buffer gas; the temperature of the ion trap; the size of the inner radius of the ion trap electrodes; the mass to charge ratio of ions; the alternative buffer gases and the q_z. values which establish the ion trap trapping environment.     

A Simulation Study of the Planar Electrostatic Ion Trap Mass Analyzer

The Planar electrostatic ion trap expands the trapping space of the linear electrostatic ion trap, giving rise to higher tolerance to space charge. A rotational symmetrical design was made, which has a trapping field between two layers of concentric circular electrodes, and the ions are trapped to oscillate around the center plane between the electrodes. The oscillatory motions of the ions were simulated and the field distribution was optimized to achieve isochronous motion against energy spread in R, z, and φ directions. The image charge signal can be picked up by more than one circular electrode and using FFT the mass resolution for the optimized trap can reach 80,000 FWHM. While Fourier transform of the image charge signal generates many high harmonic peaks, the unwanted harmonic peaks can be eliminated by linear combination of image charge signals from multiple pick-up electrodes to give satisfactory results.