Remote reagent chemical ionization source

A method for producing gas-phase ions from an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization apparatus, said method comprising:

• a. forming gas-phase reagent ions in a dispersive source operated substantially at atmospheric pressure, said gas-phase reagent ions being formed by a direct or alternating electrical current discharge in a gas, photoionization of gases, a gas discharge in a magnetic field, bombardment of metals or salts by high energy ions, inductively coupled plasma, and combinations thereof;
• b. providing electrostatic attraction to said gas-phase reagent ions with electrostatic fields provided by a laminated lens, said laminated lens having an ion drawing potential, such that electrostatic field lines between said source of reagent ions and metal laminates on the topside and underside of said laminated lens are concentrated on said metal laminate on said top side of said laminated lens;
• c. transmitting substantially all said gas-phase reagent ions through said laminated lens allowing the unobstructed passage of said reagent ions and reagent gas by providing a plurality of holes in said laminated lens with a low depth aspect ratio, a high openness aspect ratio, and a high electrostatic potential ratio between said metal laminates on the topside and underside of said laminated lens;
• d. supplying a gaseous, liquid, or solid sample containing molecules to a heated sample introduction means at substantially atmospheric pressure for emitting molecules in said sample as gas-phase molecules;
• and
• e. receiving said gas-phase molecules from said introduction means and said gas-phase reagent ions from said reagent ion source in a reaction region at substantially atmospheric pressure where said gas-phase molecules react with said reagent ions forming gas-phase ionic chemical species.

A chemical ionization apparatus for the collection and focusing of gas-phase ions produced from chemical species, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a dispersive source of gas-phase reagent ions operated substantially at atmospheric pressure, said gas-phase reagent ions being formed by direct current or alternating current electrical discharge ionization and combinations thereof;
• b. a sample introduction means operated substantially at atmospheric pressure, wherein said means is a heated conduit for the introduction of said chemical species as gaseous substances or an aerosol;
• c. a reaction region receiving the outlets of said sample introduction means and said reagent ion source, which are arranged so that said gaseous substances emitted from said sample introduction means and said gas-phase reagent ions from said reagent ion source interact forming gas-phase ionic chemical species;
• d. an analyzer chamber exposed to a high vacuum downstream of said reaction region, for receiving said gas-phase reagent ions and ionic chemical species;
• e. a first laminated lens sandwiched between said reagent ion source and reaction region, said lens populated with a plurality of openings through which said gas-phase reagent ions pass unobstructed into said reaction region, said lens consisting of an insulating body of material, said insulating body having a topside and an underside, said insulating body has a layer of metal laminated on said topside and said underside that are contiguous with said insulating body, said metal laminate on said topside of said insulating body is adjacent to said reagent ion source, said metal laminate on said underside of said insulating body is adjacent to said reaction region, said openings having a low depth aspect ratio, a high openness aspect ratio, said metal laminates being supplied with attracting electrostatic potentials by connection to a voltage supply for generating a large electrostatic potential ratio between said laminates and establishing an electrostatic field between said source of reagent ions and said metal laminates;
• and
• f. a second laminated lens sandwiched between said reaction region and said analyzer chamber, said second laminated lens having a central opening through which substantially all said gas-phase ions and ionic species pass unobstructed into said analyzer chamber, said second laminated lens consisting of a second insulating body of material, said second insulating body having a topside and an underside, said second insulating body has a second set of metal laminated on said topside and said underside that are contiguous with said second insulating body, said metal laminate on said topside of said second insulating body is adjacent to said reaction region, said metal laminate on said underside of said second insulating body is adjacent to said analyzer chamber forming a deep-well region between said metal laminates of second laminated lens, said second set of metal laminates being supplied with attracting electrostatic potentials by connection to a voltage supply, and generating an electrostatic field between said reaction region and said second set of metal laminates;
• wherein said region of reagent ion generation is physically separated from ion reaction region.

A chemical ionization apparatus for the collection and focusing of gas-phase ions produced from chemical species, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a dispersive source of gas-phase reagent ions operated substantially at atmospheric pressure;
• b. a sample introduction means operated substantially at atmospheric pressure, wherein said means is a heated conduit for the introduction of said chemical species as a gas that comprises non-ionic or neutral gaseous chemical species, an aerosol, and combinations thereof;
• c. a reaction region receiving the outlets of said sample introduction means and said reagent ion source, which are arranged so that said gaseous substances emitted from said sample introduction means and said reagent ions from said reagent ion source interact forming gas-phase ionic chemical species;
• d. an analyzer chamber exposed to a high vacuum downstream of said reaction region, for receiving said gas-phase reagent ions and ionic chemical species;
• e. a first laminated lens sandwiched between said reagent ion source and reaction region, said lens populated with a plurality of openings through which said gas-phase reagent ions pass unobstructed into said reaction region, said lens consisting of an insulating body of material, said insulating body having a topside and an underside, said insulating body has a layer of metal laminated on said topside and said underside that are contiguous with said insulating body, said metal laminate on said topside of said insulating body is adjacent to said reagent ion source, said metal laminate on said underside of said insulating body is adjacent to said reaction region, said openings having a low depth aspect ratio, a high openness aspect ratio, said metal laminates being supplied with attracting electrostatic potentials by connection to a voltage supply for generating a large electrostatic potential ratio between said laminates and establishing an electrostatic field between said source of reagent ions and said metal laminates;
• and
• f. a second laminated lens sandwiched between said reaction region and said analyzer chamber, said second laminated lens having a central opening through which substantially all said gas-phase ions pass unobstructed into said analyzer chamber, said second laminated lens consisting of a second insulating body of material, said second insulating body having a topside and an underside, said second insulating body has a second set of metal laminated on said topside and said underside that are contiguous with said second insulating body, said metal laminate on said topside of said second insulating body is adjacent to said reaction region, said metal laminate on said underside of said second insulating body is adjacent to said analyzer chamber forming a deep-well region between said metal laminates of second laminated lens, said second set of metal laminates being supplied with attracting electrostatic potentials by connection to a voltage supply, and generating an electrostatic field between said reaction region and said second set of metal laminates;
• wherein said region of reagent ion generation is physically separated from said ion reaction region.

A chemical ionization apparatus for the collection and focusing of gas-phase ions produced from chemical species, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a dispersive source of gas-phase reagent ions operated substantially at atmospheric pressure;
• b. a sample introduction means operated substantially at atmospheric pressure, wherein said means includes a heated conduit for the introduction of said chemical species and provides a solid sample whereby said solid sample is vaporized by heating a probe which said sample is placed on, irradiating said sample with light, passing a heated gas over said sample, and combinations thereof;
• c. a reaction region receiving the outlets of said sample introduction means and said reagent ion source, which are arranged so that said gaseous substances emitted from said sample introduction means and said reagent ions from said reagent ion source interact forming gas-phase ionic chemical species;
• d. an analyzer chamber exposed to a high vacuum downstream of said reaction region, for receiving said gas-phase reagent ions and ionic chemical species;
• e. a first laminated lens sandwiched between said reagent ion source and reaction region, said lens populated with a plurality of openings through which said gas-phase reagent ions pass unobstructed into said reaction region, said lens consisting of an insulating body of material, said insulating body having a topside and an underside, said insulating body has a layer of metal laminated on said topside and said underside that are contiguous with said insulating body, said metal laminate on said topside of said insulating body is adjacent to said reagent ion source, said metal laminate on said underside of said insulating body is adjacent to said reaction region, said openings having a low depth aspect ratio, a high openness aspect ratio, said metal laminates being supplied with attracting electrostatic potentials by connection to a voltage supply for generating a large electrostatic potential ratio between said laminates and establishing an electrostatic field between said source of reagent ions and said metal laminates;
• and
• f. a second laminated lens sandwiched between said reaction region and said analyzer chamber, said second laminated lens having a central opening through which substantially all said gas-phase ions pass unobstructed into said analyzer chamber, said second laminated lens consisting of a second insulating body of material, said second insulating body having a topside and an underside, said second insulating body has a second set of metal laminated on said topside and said underside that are contiguous with said second insulating body, said metal laminate on said topside of said second insulating body is adjacent to said reaction region, said metal laminate on said underside of said second insulating body is adjacent to said analyzer chamber forming a deep-well region between said metal laminates of second laminated lens, said second set of metal laminates being supplied with attracting electrostatic potentials by connection to a voltage supply, and generating an electrostatic field between said reaction region and said second set of metal laminates;
• wherein said region of reagent ion generation is physically separated from said ion reaction region.

A remote reagent ionization apparatus for the production of sample ions, charged particles, or ionic species produced from sample species, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a remote ion source region operated substantially at or above atmospheric pressure producing reactant species remotely from a sample reaction region;
• b. said sample reaction region receiving the outlet of said ion source region, said reactant species reacting with said sample species in said reaction region;
• and
• c. a perforated electrically conductive barrier, wherein said barrier is located between said ion source and reaction regions;
• through which the said reactant species travel from said ion source region to said reaction region,
• whereby said sample product ions, charged particles, or ionic species are collected or analyzed.

A method for atmospheric pressure production of sample ions or charged particles with remote reagent ionization, the method comprising:

• a. generating reactant species in a remote ion source region operated substantially at or above atmospheric pressure;
• b. transferring reactant species from said remote ion source region across a perforated electrically conducting barrier to a sample reaction region;
• and
• c. reacting said reactant species in said sample reaction region with sample species to produce said sample product ions or charged particles;
• whereby said sample product ions or charged particles are collected or analyzed.

A method for creating analyte ions at or near atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• a. causing the production of reactant species from a reagent gas or gases;
• b. transporting said reactant species to a remote reaction region through a barrier;
• and
• c. reacting said reactant species with an analyte in said reaction region;
• whereby said reaction results in the production of said analyte ions.