Design and performance evaluation of a novel ion funnel driven by a phase-modulated rectangular wave.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Ion funnels are crucial for ion transport in mass spectrometry, replacing skimmers.
• Conventional radiofrequency (RF) ion funnels suffer from potential barriers, reducing ion transmission efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel ion funnel with enhanced transmission performance.
• To investigate a new radiofrequency (RF) supply method for ion funnels.

Main Methods:

• Designed a phase-modulated rectangular wave (PMRW) ion funnel.
• Utilized SIMION software for computer simulations of potential field distributions and ion trajectories.
• Conducted preliminary experiments using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with polypropylene glycol, propylamine, and butylamine.

Main Results:

• The PMRW ion funnel exhibits a beneficial bowl-shaped potential distribution.
• Simulations confirmed the absence of potential barriers in the PMRW ion funnel.
• Experimental results showed a 150-200% increase in signal intensity for propylamine and butylamine, and 50% for polypropylene glycol.

Conclusions:

• A novel PMRW ion funnel demonstrates superior ion transmission efficiency compared to conventional designs.
• The PMRW method is particularly effective for improving the transmission of low mass-to-charge ratio ions.
• This advancement offers enhanced performance for mass spectrometry applications.