Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 5200-5207 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | ANALYST |
| Volume | 138 |
| Issue number | 18 |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Apr 2013 |
Abstract
Drift tube ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) are widely used for fast trace gas detection in air, but portable compact systems are typically very limited in their resolving power. Decreasing the initial ion packet width improves the resolution, but is generally associated with a reduced signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) due to the lower number of ions injected into the drift region. In this paper, we present a refined theory of IMS operation which employs a combined approach for the analysis of the ion drift and the subsequent amplification to predict both the resolution and the SNR of the measured ion current peak. This theoretical analysis shows that the SNR is not a function of the initial ion packet width, meaning that compact drift tube IMS with both very high resolution and extremely low limits of detection can be designed. Based on these implications, an optimized combination of a compact drift tube with a length of just 10 cm and a transimpedance amplifier has been constructed with a resolution of 183 measured for the positive reactant ion peak (RIP+), which is sufficient to e.g. separate the RIP+ from the protonated acetone monomer, even though their drift times only differ by a factor of 1.007. Furthermore, the limits of detection (LODs) for acetone are 180 pptv within 1 s of averaging time and 580 pptv within only 100 ms.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
- Chemistry(all)
- Spectroscopy
- Chemistry(all)
- Electrochemistry
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In: ANALYST, Vol. 138, No. 18, 23.04.2013, p. 5200-5207.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A compact high resolution ion mobility spectrometer for fast trace gas analysis
AU - Kirk, Ansgar T.
AU - Allers, Maria
AU - Cochems, Philipp
AU - Langejuergen, Jens
AU - Zimmermann, Stefan
PY - 2013/4/23
Y1 - 2013/4/23
N2 - Drift tube ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) are widely used for fast trace gas detection in air, but portable compact systems are typically very limited in their resolving power. Decreasing the initial ion packet width improves the resolution, but is generally associated with a reduced signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) due to the lower number of ions injected into the drift region. In this paper, we present a refined theory of IMS operation which employs a combined approach for the analysis of the ion drift and the subsequent amplification to predict both the resolution and the SNR of the measured ion current peak. This theoretical analysis shows that the SNR is not a function of the initial ion packet width, meaning that compact drift tube IMS with both very high resolution and extremely low limits of detection can be designed. Based on these implications, an optimized combination of a compact drift tube with a length of just 10 cm and a transimpedance amplifier has been constructed with a resolution of 183 measured for the positive reactant ion peak (RIP+), which is sufficient to e.g. separate the RIP+ from the protonated acetone monomer, even though their drift times only differ by a factor of 1.007. Furthermore, the limits of detection (LODs) for acetone are 180 pptv within 1 s of averaging time and 580 pptv within only 100 ms.
AB - Drift tube ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) are widely used for fast trace gas detection in air, but portable compact systems are typically very limited in their resolving power. Decreasing the initial ion packet width improves the resolution, but is generally associated with a reduced signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) due to the lower number of ions injected into the drift region. In this paper, we present a refined theory of IMS operation which employs a combined approach for the analysis of the ion drift and the subsequent amplification to predict both the resolution and the SNR of the measured ion current peak. This theoretical analysis shows that the SNR is not a function of the initial ion packet width, meaning that compact drift tube IMS with both very high resolution and extremely low limits of detection can be designed. Based on these implications, an optimized combination of a compact drift tube with a length of just 10 cm and a transimpedance amplifier has been constructed with a resolution of 183 measured for the positive reactant ion peak (RIP+), which is sufficient to e.g. separate the RIP+ from the protonated acetone monomer, even though their drift times only differ by a factor of 1.007. Furthermore, the limits of detection (LODs) for acetone are 180 pptv within 1 s of averaging time and 580 pptv within only 100 ms.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84881633547&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/c3an00231d
DO - 10.1039/c3an00231d
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84881633547
VL - 138
SP - 5200
EP - 5207
JO - ANALYST
JF - ANALYST
SN - 0003-2654
IS - 18
ER -