Abstract: The present invention discloses an ionization apparatus 10 for ionizing an analyte S, comprising an inlet E, an outlet A, a first electrode 1, a second electrode 2 and a dielectric element 3. The first electrode 1, the second electrode 2 and the dielectric element 3 are arranged relative to one another such that, by applying an electric voltage between the first electrode 1 and the second electrode 2, a dielectric barrier discharge is establishable in a discharge area 5 in the ionization apparatus 10. The first and second electrodes 1, 2 are arranged such that they are displaceable or movable relative to each other.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ionization apparatus 10 for ionizing an analyte S, comprising an inlet E, an outlet A, a first electrode 1, a second electrode 2 and a dielectric element 3. The first electrode 1, the second electrode 2 and the dielectric element 3 are arranged relative to one another such that, by applying an electric voltage between the first electrode 1 and the second electrode 2, a dielectric barrier discharge is establishable in a discharge area 5 in the ionization apparatus 10. The first and second electrodes 1, 2 are arranged such that they are displaceable or movable relative to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of ionizing a gaseous substance, in particular the ionizing or ionization of a gaseous substance in preparation for its analysis. A device is intended to make a discharge gas and a test substance ionizable in a flow-through mode without essentially destroying or fragmenting the sample substance. In order to avoid a high expenditure in terms of construction and equipment, the device is intended to be usable under ambient conditions and to ensure a high sensitivity in a possible analysis of an ionized substance. To this end, an ionizing device is used for flow-through ionization of a discharge gas and of a sample substance at an absolute pressure of more than 40 kPa in the ionizing device during ionization. The ionizing device comprises an inlet, an outlet, a first electrode, a dielectric element and a second electrode.