Ion mobility spectrometry devices having high capacity regions for ion accumulation prior to intermittent mass analysis and methods therefor

An ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) device and downstream gating element, comprising:

• at least one surface;
• a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the at least one surface, the first plurality of electrodes configured to receive a first voltage signal and generate at least a portion of a first pseudopotential that inhibits ions from approaching the at least one surface;
• a second plurality of electrodes disposed on the at least one surface, the second plurality of electrodes configured to receive a second voltage signal and generate a drive potential;
• and
• an ion path adjacent the at least one surface and extending between an inlet and an outlet, the ion path including:
• a first accumulation region configured to switch between a first accumulation state and a first release state, the first accumulation region accumulating ions when in the accumulation state and permitting ions to pass therethrough when in the release state, the first accumulation region being synchronized with a mass filter downstream of the IMS device,
• a separation region positioned downstream of the first accumulation region and configured to temporally separate ions based on mobility, and
• a second accumulation region downstream of the separation region and configured to receive the temporally separated ions from the separation region and switch between a second accumulation state and a second release state, the second accumulation region accumulating ions when in the accumulation state and permitting ions to pass therethrough when in the release state,
• an electrode gate positioned adjacent the second accumulation region and configured to be switched between a first state and a second state, generate a first electric field in the first state, and generate a second electric field in the second state and
• a gating element positioned downstream of the IMS device and configured to control the flow of ions to a mass analyzer, and
• wherein the state of the second accumulation region being dependent upon the state of the gating element,
• wherein the first electric field is configured to guide the ions along the ion path and the second electric field is configured to prevent the ions from traversing the electrode gate and to cause ions to accumulate in the second accumulation region,
• wherein the state of the electrode gate is substantially synchronized with and dependent upon the state of the gating element and
• wherein the IMS device is configured to receive a sample of ions, guide the ions through the ion path, temporally separate the ions, and discharge the ions.