Miniaturized High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer MULTUM-S II with an Infinite Flight Path

TLDR

The MULTUM‑S II is a compact multiturn TOF mass spectrometer comprising an electron ionization source, four electrostatic toroidal sectors and two additional sectors for ion injection/ejection, a detector, vacuum system, and electronics, all fitting within a 50 cm × 57 cm × 30 cm enclosure weighing 35 kg. The instrument achieves high mass resolution, resolving pyridine versus benzene isotopologues at ~20 000 and the CO₂/N₂O doublet at 31 600, demonstrating its capability for high‑resolution mass spectrometry in a portable enclosure.

Abstract

A new miniature multiturn time-of-flight (TOF) analyzer “MULTUM-S II” has been designed and constructed. This instrument consists of an electron ionization source, the multiturn TOF ion optics, a detector, vacuum system, and electronic circuits. The multiturn TOF analyzer consists of four electrostatic toroidal sectors and two additional electric toroidal sectors for the purpose of ion injection/ejection. The size and weight of the system is less than 50 cm × 57 cm × 30 cm and 35 kg (including vacuum pumps and electronic circuits). The multiturn TOF analyzer is capable of high mass resolution because of its infinite flight path utilizing perfect space and time focused closed flight orbit. To evaluate the resolution in MULTUM-S II, separation of pyridine (12C5H5N) and the isotopic component of benzene (13C12C5H6) was performed at a mass resolution of about 20 000. Another performance characteristic of the MULTUM-S II was demonstrated by the separation of the greenhouse gas doublet CO2 and N2O (Δm = 0.0113 Da). While the mass difference is a mere 0.01 Da, the instrument could easily separate the two peaks at a calculated mass resolution of 31 600. The MULTUM-S II offers high mass resolution mass spectrometry in a miniaturized/portable enclosure.