Plasmion Gmbh

Jan-Christoph Wolf

The present invention discloses an ionization apparatusfor ionizing an analyte S, comprising an inlet E, an outlet A, a first electrode, a second electrodeand a dielectric element. The first electrode, the second electrodeand the dielectric elementare arranged relative to one another such that, by applying an electric voltage between the first electrodeand the second electrode, a dielectric barrier discharge is establishable in a discharge areain the ionization apparatus. The first and second electrodesare arranged such that they are displaceable or movable relative to each other.

Apparatus and method for ionizing an analyte, and apparatus and method for analyzing an ionized analyte

Apparatus and method for ionizing an analyte, and apparatus and method for analysing an ionized analyte

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. The dielectric element is configured in the shape of a hollow body having an inner side and an outer side and it allows a flow of the discharge gas and of the sample substance therethrough in a flow direction. The first electrode is arranged outside of the outer side of the dielectric element. The second electrode is arranged, at least sectionwise, inside the dielectric element, is surrounded by the inner side of the dielectric element perpendicularly to the flow direction, and allows a flow of the discharge gas and of the sample substance therethrough or therearound. A distance in or contrary to the flow direction exists between the associated ends of the first and second electrodes and lies between &#x2212;5 mm to 5 mm. A dielectric barrier discharge is establishable in a dielectric barrier discharge region by applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes so as to ionize the discharge gas or the sample substance.

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Ingolstadt, Germany

Jan-Christoph Wolf