Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for ionizing a surface. In one implementation, an ionization source may include a microhollow cathode plasma or micro cavity plasma (MCP)-based ion source having a cavity and generating a plasma. A gas stream may pass through the cavity and transport the plasma. The source may further include one or more conductive electrodes located downstream from the MCP and configured to have a potential relative to the MCP such that positive and negative ions included in the plasma are carried through the electrodes by the gas stream. In another implementation, a mixer may mix a dopant (e.g. water) with the gas stream (e.g. air) entering the discharge. The disclosure also relates to a surface ionization probe.

Abstract: A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions and is capable of operating at atmospheric pressure. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for transferring ions to a mass spectrometer. In one implementation, the system includes an ion source; a device for generating a solvent vapor; a unit for mixing the ions and the vapor; and a transfer tube coupled to the mass spectrometer. The mixing may cause solvent clusters to nucleate on the ions, and the transfer tube may couple the ion source and the mass spectrometer. Furthermore, the transfer tube may be configured to transfer the ions by using a gas flow and prevent the solvent clusters from contacting the tube wall by using thermophoresis.

Abstract: A gas collection and analysis system for detecting microbiomes is described. The system includes a waste disposal site, a sorbent cartridge coupled adjacent to the waste disposal site, wherein the sorbent cartridge includes a sorbent media configured to absorb a gas sample from within the waste disposal site, a sorbent heating block configured to heat the sorbent cartridge and release the gas sample absorbed by the sorbent media, and a pumping system coupling the sorbent cartridge to an ionized gas analyzer mass spectrometer, the pumping system configured to direct the flow of the released gas sample from the sorbent media to the gas analyzer mass spectrometer for chemical analysis. Methods for detecting microbiomes of a user are also described herein.

Abstract: A gas collection and analysis system for detecting microbiomes is described. The system includes a waste disposal site, a sorbent cartridge coupled adjacent to the waste disposal site, wherein the sorbent cartridge includes a sorbent media configured to absorb a gas sample from within the waste disposal site, a sorbent heating block configured to heat the sorbent cartridge and release the gas sample absorbed by the sorbent media, and a pumping system coupling the sorbent cartridge to an ionized gas analyzer mass spectrometer, the pumping system configured to direct the flow of the released gas sample from the sorbent media to the gas analyzer mass spectrometer for chemical analysis. Methods for detecting microbiomes of a user are also described herein.

Abstract: A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions and is capable of operating at atmospheric pressure. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for creating a gas curtain inlet for a detector of a substance of interest. The methods and systems include introducing a carrier gas into an inlet to block out atmospheric air without having to make the inlet a sealed system.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the ability to use dopant-assisted photoionization to detect substances of interest. Various dopants can be used through the disclosed methods and processes to detect substances such as, for example, explosives, narcotics, illicit substances and the like.

Abstract: A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components. The inventors further performed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and drift tube measurements to characterize the performance characteristics of the instrument.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for creating a gas curtain inlet for a detector of a substance of interest. The methods and systems include introducing a carrier gas into an inlet to block out atmospheric air without having to make the inlet a sealed system.

Abstract: A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components. The inventors further performed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and drift tube measurements to characterize the performance characteristics of the instrument.

Abstract: A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components. The inventors further performed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and drift tube measurements to characterize the performance characteristics of the instrument.

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles as a sample matrix for Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) along with a novel method for nanoparticle development is described herein. The silver nanoparticles were generated from silver ions on the surface of a MALDI plate utilizing a Soft Landing Ion Mobility (SLIM) instrument. Upon interaction with the surface the incident silver ions were labile and aggregated into the nanoparticle structures in a time dependent fashion. Post landing analysis were completed by Time of Flight mass spectrometry (TOF), and of particular interest in the spectra were the elimination of low mass interference peaks that generally plague organic based matrices. The approach of the present invention significantly decreases sample preparation time and may lead to a preparation free MALDI source by soft landing a matrix directly on the sample surface.

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles as a sample matrix for Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) along with a novel method for nanoparticle development is described herein. The silver nanoparticles were generated from silver ions on the surface of a MALDI plate utilizing a Soft Landing Ion Mobility (SLIM) instrument. Upon interaction with the surface the incident silver ions were labile and aggregated into the nanoparticle structures in a time dependent fashion. Post landing analyses were completed by Time of Flight mass spectrometry (TOF), and of particular interest in the spectra were the elimination of low mass interference peaks that generally plague organic based matrices. The approach of the present invention significantly decreases sample preparation time and may lead to a preparation free MALDI source by soft landing a matrix directly on the sample surface.

Abstract: A soft-landing (SL) instrument for depositing ions onto substrates using a laser ablation source is described herein. The instrument of the instant invention is designed with a custom drift tube and a split-ring ion optic for the isolation of selected ions. The drift tube allows for the separation and thermalization of ions formed after laser ablation through collisions with an inert bath gas that allow the ions to be landed at energies below 1 eV onto substrates. The split-ring ion optic is capable of directing ions toward the detector or a landing substrate for selected components. The inventors further performed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and drift tube measurements to characterize the performance characteristics of the instrument.