Ion source means for desorption/ionisation of analyte substances and method of desorbing/ionising of analyte substances

A mass spectrometer device comprising:

• an ion source means, comprising:
• at least one holding means for holding at least one sample to expose the sample to a mass analyzer device,
• wherein the holding means comprises:
• a structured sample support means for supporting at least one of the sample, a structured sample and a sample comprising a structured surface,
• wherein a voltage difference is applied between the holding means and a counter electrode to perform at least one of desorbing at least one of molecules and ions and desorbing and ionising molecules from the sample of the ion source means under substantially atmospheric pressure, wherein the mass analyzer device of the mass spectrometer device is at least one of a Q-TOF mass spectrometer device, a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer device, an orthogonal-extracting TOF mass spectrometer device, a quadrupole mass spectrometer device, an ion trap mass spectrometer device and a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer device.

A method including the steps of:

• providing a mass analyzer device
• providing an ion source means,
• wherein the ion source means comprises at least one holding means for holding at least one sample to expose the sample to the mass analyzer device,
• wherein the holding means comprises a structured sample support means for supporting at least one of the sample and a structured sample,
• providing an atmosphere at substantially atmospheric pressure AP,
• providing a voltage difference between the sample holding means and a counter electrode which is sufficient to desorb at least one of ions and molecules from the sample.