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Atmospheric Pressure Interface Time-of-Flight (APi-TOF)

Atmospheric Pressure Interface Time-of-Flight (APi-TOF) Instrument for Detection of Positive or Negative Ions based on the ioniTOF platform and Hexapole ION-GUIDES

Overview

The IONICON ioniAPi-TOF is a modular and robust Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer designed for the detection and mass analysis of ions generated at atmospheric pressure. 
The ioniAPi-TOF atmospheric pressure interface consists of a critical orifice for contact free sample introduction, two hexapole ION-GUIDEs for high ion transmission efficiency over a broad m/z range and a high performance pump for high sample throughput. This interface is coupled to an orthogonal TOF analyzer equipped with an ion mirror for increased mass resolution. Our next generation TOF power supplies allow fast and repeatable switching between positive and negative polarity. 
The new APi-TOF platform is a very attractive instrument for gaining new insights in science, enabling:

  • a broader detectable m/z range than established designs,
  • fast (<10 s) switching between positive and negative polarity
  • low energy ion transfer for decreased ion-chemistry artefacts
  • modular mass resolution thanks to the ioniTOF platform

These benefits are exclusive features of the ioniAPi-TOF. Contact us for a quote!

Flexible front-end design

The front-end of the ioniAPi-TOF is simple and flexible in design for easy coupling of the ionization source of your choice, e.g.

  • atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)
  • electrospray ionization (ESI)
  • electric discharge ionization like Corona discharge
  • radioactive ionization like Americium-241
  • X-ray ionization
  • Photoionization
  • or even galactic cosmic rays producing naturally charged atmospheric ions

The Hexapole ION-GUIDE advantage

The ioniAPi-TOF features the advanced IONICON hexapole ION-GUIDE technology for ion transfer from atmospheric pressure to the vacuum of the TOF mass analyzer. 
The advantage of the IONICON hexapole ION-GUIDE over conventional quadrupole interfaces is that the energy in the multipole is lower which decreases unwanted ion-chemistry artefacts and even allows the transfer of weakly bound cluster ions. Another advantage is that the IONICON hexapole ION-GUIDE benefits from significantly reduced mass-discrimination effects enabling the transfer of a much broader mass range without the need to retune any ion transfer voltages such that all relevant processes of your application can be monitored at the same time.

The ioniTOF advantage

The ioniTOF mass analyzer is designed as a modular and flexible TOF-MS platform that allows you to choose the mass resolving power you need and also upgrade to higher resolution if you feel the need at a later stage of your experiments. The ioniTOF is available with mass resolutions ranging from 500 to even more than 10,000.
Discover the ioniTOF ecosystem!

Recent publications

B. Rörup, W. Scholz, L. Dada, M. Leiminger, R. Baalbaki, A. Hansel, J. Kangasluoma, H.E. Manninen, G. Steiner, J. Vanhanen, M. Kulmala, K. Lehtipalo, Activation of sub-3 nm organic particles in the particle size magnifier using humid and dry conditions, Journal of Aerosol Science (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2021.105945

Brilke, S., Resch, J., Leiminger, M., Steiner, G., Tauber, C., Wlasits, P. J. & Winkler, P. M.: Precision characterization of three ultrafine condensation particle counters using singly charged salt clusters in the 1–4 nm size range generated by a bipolar electrospray source, Aerosol Science and Technology (2020), https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2019.1708260

Dvorak, M., Schnegg, R., Salvenmoser, W. et al. Distinct pathways for zinc metabolism in the terrestrial slug Arion vulgaris. Sci Rep 9, 20089 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56577-7

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