Microchip based ion source powered by a lighter piezo-generator for mass-spectrometry detection

This study presents a microchip device powered by a lighter piezo-generator for producing corona discharge for ambient mass-spectrometry (MS) detection. A low-cost lighter piezo-generator is capable of producing a high voltage pulse of 10~12 kV for generating corona discharge. The energetic corona discharge simultaneously desorbs and ionizes the solid samples for mass spectrometry detections. Results shows that the discharge behavior of the lighter piezo-generator is stable enough for producing high voltage pulses and the measured ion intensity is higher than 10⁵ ions/cm³. The optical emission spectrum of the discharged glow indicates that helium and oxygen are successfully discharged. Standard sample of caffeine is used to evaluate the sensing performance of the developed ion source. Results indicate that the MS chip powered by the lighter-generator is capable of detecting caffeine of the concentration as low as 10 ppm without delicate sample preparation procedures. In addition, three clinical medicines including a human sex hormone of estradiol, panadol tablet and a typical steroid of clenbuterol are successfully detected using the developed MS chip. The developed MS chip powered by the lighter piezo-generator has demonstrated the possibility for establishing a portable MS detection system.