Method and apparatus for increased electrospray ion production

A LC/MS interfacing device comprising:

• a. a capillary means for introducing liquid effluent;
• b. a chamber for receiving said liquid effluent, which chamber includes at least a first wall in which said capillary means is situated and at least a second wall;
• c. a voltage supply means for maintaining a high electrical potential difference between said liquid effluent within the capillary means and said second wall, whereby the surface of said liquid effluent is distorted at outlet of said capillary means into one or more electrospray cone-jets;
• d. a counter-ion generation means for creating gas-phase counter-ions of opposite relative polarity to the said liquid effluent potential;
• e. a control means for regulating the supply of said counter-ions.
• f. a steering means for directing the said gas-phase counter-ions into the surface of the said electrospray cone-jet.
• g. means for evaporating the said liquid effluent to produce gas phase ions from the said liquid effluent which are introduced into a mass spectrometer or other gas phase ion analyzer.

A method of creating highly charged droplets, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. introducing a liquid sample through a capillary means;
• b. receiving the sample into a first chamber which includes at least one wall in which the means for introducing the liquid sample is situated and at least a second wall,
• c. maintaining a high electrical potential difference between said liquid sample within the capillary means and said second wall, whereby the surface of the said liquid sample is distorted at outlet of said capillary means into one or more electrospray cone-jets;
• d. generating a population of gas-phase counter-ions with a counter-ion generation means downstream from the outlet of the said capillary;
• e. steering the said gas-phase counter-ions into the said surface of the said liquid sample at the outlet of the said capillary means.
• f. a method for evaporating the said highly charged droplets to produce gas phase ions from said sample which are introduced into a mass spectrometer or other gas phase ion analyzer.