Internal energy of ions in traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry : comparison between Synapt G1 and Synapt G2

Poster (2012, May)

Ion heating in travelling-wave based ion mobility spectrometer

Poster (2011, August 01)

Effective temperature of ions in traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry

in Analytical Chemistry (2011), 83(14), 5775-5782

Traveling wave ion mobility spectrometers (TW IMS) operate at significantly higher fields than drift tube ion mobility spectrometers. Here we measured the fragmentation of the fragile p ... [more ▼]

Traveling wave ion mobility spectrometers (TW IMS) operate at significantly higher fields than drift tube ion mobility spectrometers. Here we measured the fragmentation of the fragile p-methoxybenzylpyridinium ion inside the TW ion mobility cell of the first-generation SYNAPT HDMS spectrometer. The ion’s vibrational internal energy was quantified by a vibrational effective temperature Teff,vib, which is the mean temperature of the ions inside the cell that would result in the same fragmentation yield as observed experimentally. Significant fragmentation of the probe ion inside the TW IMS cell was detected, indicating that field heating of the ions takes place in TW IMS. For typical small molecule IMS conditions, Teff,vib = 555 ± 2 K. The variations of the effective temperature were studied as a function of the IMS parameters, and we found that Teff,vib decreases when the wave height decreases, when the pressure increases, or when the wave speed increases. The energy transfer efficiency of argon is higher than for He, N2 or CO2. Teff,vib being directly related to the ion speed inside the TW IMS, our results also provide new insight on the ion movement in TW IMS. We also discuss the influence of field heating of ions for calibration and structural studies in TW IMS. [less ▲]

Internal energy content of ions in a travelling wave ion guide

Conference (2010)

Travelling wave ion guides (TWIGs) separate of ions according to their mobility and, at constant charge, according to their shape. The ion mobility separation itself should not modify the shape of the ... [more ▼]

Travelling wave ion guides (TWIGs) separate of ions according to their mobility and, at constant charge, according to their shape. The ion mobility separation itself should not modify the shape of the systems investigated. It was recently suggested by Shvartsburg et al. that the higher fields used in TWIGs than in traditional drift tubes would cause significant heating of the ions. We present a quantitative analysis of the amount of internal energy imparted to ions as they are separated in TWIGs. Benzylpyridinium ions were chosen as “thermometer” ions. Based on arrival time distributions, the fragment ion population is separated as a function of the place of formation: before, in, or after the TWIG. Fragmentation all along the TWIG was observed. The roles of the travelling wave’s voltage, speed, and of the gas nature and pressure will be discussed in detail as well of the consequences on instruments performances. [less ▲]