A simple electrospray interface based on a DC ion carpet

We describe a simple electrospray interface incorporating a long drift region and a DC ion carpet. The function of the drift region is to thermalize and desolvate the ions. It has a series of ring electrodes supplied with RF and DC voltages, which radially confine and transport ions towards the DC ion carpet. The DC ion carpet consists of a series of concentric rings on a planar printed circuit board, which provide a DC potential gradient that funnels ions through a central aperture. The design and operating parameters were optimized by trajectory calculations and experiments. According to calculations, the transmission efficiency for thermalized ions exceeds 90%, and there is little m/z discrimination at the exit aperture. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.