Abstract: An ionization device includes an ion formation section configured to ionize an analyte via a corona discharge; and a transfer section configured to transfer the ionized analyte to a mass spectrometry apparatus. The ion formation section and the transfer section are partitioned by one electrode of a pair of electrodes that generate the corona discharge. The one electrode has an opening.

Abstract: Provided are an ion source, an ion gun, and an analysis instrument, which are capable of performing sputtering without damage to a surface of a sample and improving detection sensitivity in mass spectroscopy. In the ion source, an emission opening to which ionization liquid is supplied is disposed in an electric field formed in vacuum environment by an extracting electrode so that super large droplet cluster ions are generated from the emission opening. When the sample is irradiated with a super large droplet cluster ion beam, the sample surface is subjected to sputtering without damage, so as to remove contamination substances or to expose a new surface of the sample. In mass spectroscopy, detection sensitivity is improved.

Abstract: It is arranged so that living tissue that has not been pretreated can be adopted as a sample of interest. A sample is introduced into at least a tip portion of a hollow insulated sample holder 11 having a small hole 11a in the tip portion. A slender metal wire 12, which has been inserted into the sample holder 11 from the rear, is projected outwardly from the sample holder 11 through the hole 11a while being brought into contact with the sample. A high voltage is applied to the slender metal wire 12 at least in a portion of a time period in which the tip of the slender metal wire 12 is being projected outwardly from the hole 11a, thereby ionizing, by electrospray, the sample adhering to the tip of the slender metal wire 12. The ions are introduced into an analyzing apparatus and are analyzed.

Abstract: Provided are an ion source, an ion gun, and an analysis instrument, which are capable of performing sputtering without damage to a surface of a sample and improving detection sensitivity in mass spectroscopy. In the ion source, an emission opening to which ionization liquid is supplied is disposed in an electric field formed in vacuum environment by an extracting electrode so that super large droplet cluster ions are generated from the emission opening. When the sample is irradiated with a super large droplet cluster ion beam, the sample surface is subjected to sputtering without damage, so as to remove contamination substances or to expose a new surface of the sample. In mass spectroscopy, detection sensitivity is improved.

Abstract: The presence of hydrogen peroxide vapor is detected with high sensitivity. Oxygen molecules in the air are ionized by electrons generated by a discharge plasma, thereby producing an oxygen molecule negative ion O2?. The oxygen molecule negative ion O2? produced is supplied to a space in which a hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is to be detected. If a hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is present, a cluster ion O2?(H2O2) of the oxygen molecule negative ion O2? and hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is produced. The hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2, therefore, can be detected by mass spectrometry. Other gas-phase negative ions such as chloride ion Cl? can be used besides the oxygen molecule negative ion O2?.

Abstract: A sampling nozzle 21, an ion supply tube 31 leading to an analysis apparatus 50 and a barrier discharge tube 11 are connected to first, second and third ends, respectively, of a T-shaped tube 41 having three connecting ports, and the central portion of the T-shaped tube is an ionization chamber SP. The ionization chamber SP is a closed space, and ions generated therein are introduced to the analysis apparatus 50 through the ion supply tube 31. As a result, almost all of the ions are introduced into the interior of the analysis apparatus.

Abstract: A sampling nozzle 21, an ion supply tube 31 leading to an analysis apparatus 50 and a barrier discharge tube 11 are connected to first, second and third ends, respectively, of a T-shaped tube 41 having three connecting ports, and the central portion of the T-shaped tube is an ionization chamber SP. The ionization chamber SP is a closed space, and ions generated therein are introduced to the analysis apparatus 50 through the ion supply tube 31. As a result, almost all of the ions are introduced into the interior of the analysis apparatus.

Abstract: The tip of an electrically conductive probe 11 is brought into contact with a sample and captures the sample S under atmospheric pressure, a high voltage for electrospray is applied to the probe 11 while a solvent is supplied to the tip of the probe 11 that has captured the sample, and molecules of the sample S at the probe tip are ionized. A miniscule amount of a fine solvent droplet is supplied to the probe tip and slow electrospray is implemented. As a result, the size of the electrically charged droplet can be made extremely small and components within the sample can be analyzed extensively without selectivity. Further, in imaging over an extended period of time, electrospray is possible even in the event that the sample dries.

Abstract: A sampling nozzle 21, an ion supply tube 31 leading to an analysis apparatus 50 and a barrier discharge tube 11 are connected to first, second and third ends, respectively, of a T-shaped tube 41 having three connecting ports, and the central portion of the T-shaped tube is an ionization chamber SP. The ionization chamber SP is a closed space, and ions generated therein are introduced to the analysis apparatus 50 through the ion supply tube 31. As a result, almost all of the ions are introduced into the interior of the analysis apparatus.

Abstract: It is arranged so that living tissue that has not been pretreated can be adopted as a sample of interest. A sample is introduced into at least a tip portion of a hollow insulated sample holder 11 having a small hole 11a in the tip portion. A slender metal wire 12, which has been inserted into the sample holder 11 from the rear, is projected outwardly from the sample holder 11 through the hole 11a while being brought into contact with the sample. A high voltage is applied to the slender metal wire 12 at least in a portion of a time period in which the tip of the slender metal wire 12 is being projected outwardly from the hole 11a, thereby ionizing, by electrospray, the sample adhering to the tip of the slender metal wire 12. The ions are introduced into an analyzing apparatus and are analyzed.

Abstract: An ionization apparatus comprises a first electrode provided on the outer periphery of a dielectric cylindrical body and a second cylindrical electrode placed inside at a center of the cylindrical body. When an AC high voltage is impressed across the first electrode and the second cylindrical electrode, a barrier discharge occurs within the cylindrical body. A distal end portion of the second cylindrical electrode projects outwardly from the distal end of the cylindrical body, a thermal equilibrium plasma P having a low electron temperature is generated outwardly from the distal end of the cylindrical body without a plasma jet ascribable to the barrier discharge emerging outwardly from the distal end of the cylindrical body. By exposing a sample S to the thermal equilibrium plasma P, particles (atoms, molecules) desorbed from the sample S undergo soft ionization without being decomposed or polymerized.

Abstract: The presence of hydrogen peroxide vapor is detected with high sensitivity. Oxygen molecules in the air are ionized by electrons generated by a discharge plasma, thereby producing an oxygen molecule negative ion O2?. The oxygen molecule negative ion O2? produced is supplied to a space in which a hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is to be detected. If a hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is present, a cluster ion O2?(H2O2) of the oxygen molecule negative ion O2? and hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2 is produced. The hydrogen peroxide molecule H2O2, therefore, can be detected by mass spectrometry. Other gas-phase negative ions such as chloride ion Cl? can be used besides the oxygen molecule negative ion O2?.

Abstract: A biological sample solution is ionized by electrospray and the sample solution is irradiated with an infrared laser beam to dissociate biological macromolecules into the constituents thereof. As a result, only non-covalent bonds of the biological macromolecules can be selectively severed and analyzed.

Abstract: The tip of an electrically conductive probe 11 is brought into contact with a sample and captures the sample S under atmospheric pressure, a high voltage for electrospray is applied to the probe 11 while a solvent is supplied to the tip of the probe 11 that has captured the sample, and molecules of the sample S at the probe tip are ionized. A miniscule amount of a fine solvent droplet is supplied to the probe tip and slow electrospray is implemented. As a result, the size of the electrically charged droplet can be made extremely small and components within the sample can be analyzed extensively without selectivity. Further, in imaging over an extended period of time, electrospray is possible even in the event that the sample dries.

Abstract: It is arranged so that ions can be analyzed accurately and with high sensitivity. A first electrode 11 is provided on the outer periphery of a dielectric cylindrical body 13 and a second electrode 12 is placed inside the cylindrical body 13 leaving a clearance between itself and the inner surface of the cylindrical body 13. When an AC high voltage is impressed across the first electrode 11 and second electrode 12, a barrier discharge occurs within the cylindrical body 13. When a distal end portion 12a of the second electrode 12 projects outwardly from the distal end of the cylindrical body 13, a thermal equilibrium plasma P having a low electron temperature is generated outwardly of the distal end of the cylindrical body 13 without a plasma jet ascribable to the barrier discharge emerging outwardly from the distal end of the cylindrical body 13.

Abstract: A biological sample can be subjected to measurement, description and ionization of ions is possible under atmospheric pressure without undergoing pretreatment. Imaging having a resolution on the nanometer order can be performed. An STM needle (probe) of an XYZ-axis-drive piezoelectric element is oscillated along the Z axis to contact the sample to a depth on the nanometer order and capture molecules at the needle tip. A pulsed high voltage is applied to the needle, achieving needle electrospray. The sample molecules are then desorbed and ionized, and mass spectrometry is carried out. The needle is swept in the XY directions, oscillation is repeated and an image obtained by molecular imaging of a nanometer area of the biological sample is measured. The probe may be brought into contact with a droplet produced at the tip of a capillary connected to the outlet port of a liquid chromatograph to capture a sample.

Abstract: A biological sample can be subjected to measurement, description and ionization of ions is possible under atmospheric pressure without undergoing pretreatment. Imaging having a resolution on the nanometer order can be performed. An STM needle (probe) of an XYZ-axis-drive piezoelectric element is oscillated along the Z axis to contact the sample to a depth on the nanometer order and capture molecules at the needle tip. A pulsed high voltage is applied to the needle, achieving needle electrospray. The sample molecules are then desorbed and ionized, and mass spectrometry is carried out. The needle is swept in the XY directions, oscillation is repeated and an image obtained by molecular imaging of a nanometer area of the biological sample is measured. The probe may be brought into contact with a droplet produced at the tip of a capillary connected to the outlet port of a liquid chromatograph to capture a sample.

Abstract: A laser spray method exhibiting a high detection sensitivity when applied to mass analysis has its sensitivity raised further. In a laser spray method of ionizing a liquid sample by irradiating, with a laser beam, the end of a capillary into which the sample has been introduced, use is made of an infrared laser as the laser beam, at least the end of the capillary is formed of a substance that does not readily absorb the laser beam used, and either the capillary is formed of a conductor and a high voltage is applied thereto, or the capillary is formed of an insulator, a conductive wire is placed inside a small cavity of the capillary and a high voltage is applied to the conductive wire.

Abstract: A laser spray method exhibiting a high detection sensitivity when applied to mass analysis has its sensitivity raised further. In a laser spray method of ionizing a liquid sample by irradiating, with a laser beam, the end of a capillary into which the sample has been introduced, use is made of an infrared laser as the laser beam, at least the end of the capillary is formed of a substance that does not readily absorb the laser beam used, and either the capillary is formed of a conductor and a high voltage is applied thereto, or the capillary is formed of an insulator, a conductive wire is placed inside a small cavity of the capillary and a high voltage is applied to the conductive wire.

Abstract: Biological molecules such as protein molecules are ionized without being damaged. Massive cluster ions of a water/methanol mixture (to which acetic acid or ammonia, etc., has been added) (in the vicinity of dry ice—acetone temperature) are generated in a charged-droplet generating chamber by a cold electrospray, and the ions are accelerated in an evacuated acceleration chamber by a high-voltage electric field on the order of 10 KV, thereby bombarding a biological sample thin film, which has been applied to a cooled specimen substrate, and achieving ionization of large biomolecules.