Articles | Volume 18, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-7075-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-7075-2025
Research article
 | 
28 Nov 2025
Research article |  | 28 Nov 2025

Characterization of a high detection-sensitivity atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Fabian Schmidt-Ott, Somnath Bhowmick, Alexandros Lekkas, Dimitris Papanastasiou, Anne Maisser, and George Biskos

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Cited articles

Amo-González, M. and Pérez, S.: Planar differential mobility analyzer with a resolving power of 110, Anal. Chem., 90, 6735–6741, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b00579, 2018. 
Beck, L. J., Schobesberger, S., Sipilä, M., Kerminen, V.-M., and Kulmala, M.: Estimation of sulfuric acid concentration using ambient ion composition and concentration data obtained with atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight ion mass spectrometer, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 1957–1965, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-1957-2022, 2022. 
Brophy, P. and Farmer, D. K.: Clustering, methodology, and mechanistic insights into acetate chemical ionization using high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 3969–3986, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-3969-2016, 2016. 
Chen, H., Venter, A., and Cooks, R. G.: Extractive electrospray ionization for direct analysis of undiluted urine, milk and other complex mixtures without sample preparation, Chem. Commun., 19, 2042, https://doi.org/10.1039/b602614a, 2006. 
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Short summary
We characterized a novel Atmospheric-Pressure-Interface Time-of-Flight (TOF) Mass Spectrometer. By accumulating ions in a trap prior the TOF mass analyzer, we achieve a limit of detection in the 10-3 to 10-6 ppq range with temporal resolutions in the order of 1 s to 10 min, respectively. This makes it highly relevant for atmospheric measurements, as it enables probing short-lived, low-concentration species of high importance in atmospheric chemistry and new particle formation.
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