Voltage control for Ion mobility separation

A method comprising:

• providing a first surface and a second surface adjacent to the first surface, the first and the second surfaces defining an ion channel extending along a first direction, the second surface comprising:
• a first plurality of electrodes comprising a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode along a second direction lateral to the first direction, and a third electrode spaced apart from the second electrode along the second direction, wherein the second electrode is positioned between the first and third electrodes and the first plurality of electrodes extending along the first direction, and
• a second plurality of electrodes including a first segmented electrode located between the first electrode and the second electrode and second segmented electrode located between the second and third electrodes;
• the first and second segmented electrodes being arranged along the first direction;
• providing ions along the ion channel;
• applying, by a controller, a first voltage signal to the first and third electrodes, wherein the first and third electrodes are each configured to generate at least a portion of a pseudopotential that inhibits ions in the first ion channel from approaching the second surface;
• applying, by a controller, a second DC voltage signal to the second electrode or connecting the second electrode to a ground reference voltage and the second electrode is configured generate at least an additional portion of a pseudopotential that inhibits the ions in the first ion channel from approaching the second surface;
• and
• applying, by the controller, a third voltage signal to the second plurality of electrodes, the third voltage signal including a traveling drive potential.

A device comprising:

• a first surface;
• a second surface adjacent to the first surface, the first and the second surface defining a first ion channel therebetween, the first ion channel extending along a first direction, the second surface comprising:
• a first plurality of electrodes comprising a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode along the first direction and a third electrode spaced apart from the second electrode along the first direction, the first plurality of electrodes arranged along the first direction, wherein the first and third electrodes are configured to receive a first RF voltage signal and the second electrode is positioned between the first and third electrodes and is configured to receive a second RF voltage signal, a DC voltage signal or is connected to a ground reference voltage;
• a second plurality of electrodes spaced apart from the first plurality of electrodes along a second direction lateral to the first direction, the second plurality of electrodes comprising a fourth electrode and a fifth electrode adjacent to the fourth electrode and arranged along the first direction, wherein the fourth electrode is configured to receive a traveling wave voltage signal;
• and
• a controller electrically coupled to the first and the second surfaces.