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Table · dataset · 2026

Miniature Mass Spectrometry for On-Site Analysis Using Self-Suction Sampling and α‑Particle Ionization

Listed in HKU DataHub and figshare and Loughborough Research Repository — shown once because both records carry DOI 10.1021/acs.analchem.6c04777.s002

The ion source is a key component of mass spectrometers, where electricity, lasers, and heat are typically used for converting molecules into ions; however, this poses a challenge due to the high-energy consumption, especially for portable miniMS systems in field environments.

Description

In this study, we report a field-deployable approach utilizing a miniature mass spectrometry (MS) system coupled with α-particle ionization and self-suction sampling.

Without any external energy input, high-energy α-particles stably generated from radioactive sources (e.g., Am-241 and Th-232) directly ionize various ambient aerosol samples, which are introduced into the system via a self-suction effect under a slight differential pressure (∼0.3 kPa). A range of ion species, including radical cations, anions, and protonated ions, were observed. The underlying ionization mechanism is proposed to involve a complex cascade of processes, namely, α-particle impact, dissociative electron attachment, and subsequent chemical ionization.

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The practical utility of this miniMS system was unambiguously validated through the on-site detection of diverse real-world samples. For direct analyte measurement, acceptable relative standard deviations (RSDs) of <20% (<i>n</i> = 6), good quantitative linearity over more than 2 orders of magnitude, and low limits of detection at the ng/mL level were achieved. Overall, our experimental data demonstrated that the α-particle source not only serves as a compact, high-energy, and stable ionization platform for miniature MS in field environments but also offers a valuable tool for investigating fundamental gas-phase ion chemistry.

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Where it is published

Catalogue records · 1

Topics

Inferred from text
Mass spectrometry 75%
Provenance · 3 source records, 46 field assertions
SourceKeyLast seenRaw
HKU DataHuboai:figshare.com:article/3400315113 d agoJSON v1
figshareoai:figshare.com:article/3400315112 d agoJSON v1
Loughborough Research Repositoryoai:figshare.com:article/3400315112 d agoJSON v1
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