Remote reagent chemical ionization source

A method for the production of gas-phase sample ions or product ions thereof at pressures substantially below atmospheric pressure, the method comprising:

• a. generating reactant species in a remote ion source region;
• b. transferring said 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 gas-phase sample ions or product ions thereof, said ions comprising protonated molecules, even-electron ions, odd-electron ions, fragment ions, ion clusters, excited or metastable ions, and combination thereof;
• whereby said sample ions or product ions thereof are collected or analyzed.

A method for creating gas-phase analyte ions or product ions thereof from an analyte at pressures substantially below 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
• d. mixing said reactant species with said analyte in said reaction region so as to facilitate energy transfer from said reactant species to said analyte;
• whereby said energy transfer results in the production of said analyte ions or product ions thereof, said ions comprising protonated molecules, even-electron ions, odd-electron ions, fragment ions, ion clusters, excited or metastable ions, and combination thereof.