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A novel linear ion trap mass analyzer built with four triangular electrodes, the triangular-electrode linear ion trap (TeLIT), has been built and its performance has been characterized. The TeLIT has all the properties of a conventional LIT mass analyzer, performing ion trapping, mass analysis, and tandem mass spectrometry functions. The TeLIT was constructed with four identical triangular cross-section shaped electrodes and two planar electrodes. Unlike commercial LITs, which have very well-defined hyperbolic shaped electrodes, the TeLIT electrodes have a much simpler geometric structure and larger mechanical tolerances. The electric field distribution inside the IT region was simulated and there are more quadrupole field components and less higher order fields compared with those in other simplified ITs, such as cylindrical ion trap and rectilinear ion trap; hence, the instrument would potentially offer a relatively high mass resolution. In routine measurement, mass analysis with a resolving power of over 1500 at m/z = 609 Th was obtained. The TeLIT was shown to perform basic mass spectrometer functions such as mass-selected isolation, mass-selected ejection and collision-induced dissociation (CID) of ions comparable to other available LITs. Moreover, given the small size of the TeLIT and its simple structure and good analytical performance, further miniaturization and use as a portable mass spectrometer are envisaged.

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A novel ion trap array (ITA) mass analyzer with six ion trapping and analyzing channels was investigated. It is capable of analyzing multiple samples simultaneously. The ITA was built with several planar electrodes made of stainless steel and 12 identical parallel zirconia ceramic substrates plated with conductive metal layers. Each two of the opposing ceramic electrode plates formed a boundary of an ion trap channel and six identical ion trapping and analyzing channels were placed in parallel without physical electrode between any two adjacent channels. The electric field distribution inside each channel was studied with simulation. The new design took the advantage of high precision machining attributable to the rigidity of ceramic, and the convenience of surface patterning technique. The ITA system was tested by using a two-channel electrospray ionization source, a multichannel simultaneous quadruple ion guide, and two detectors. The simultaneous analysis of two different samples with two adjacent ITA channels was achieved and independent mass spectra were obtained. For each channel, the mass resolution was tested. Additional ion trap functions such as mass-selected ion isolation and collision-induced dissociation (CID) were also tested. The results show that one ITA is well suited for multiple simultaneous mass analyses.

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) in linear ion traps is usually performed by applying a dipolar alternating current (AC) signal to one pair of electrodes, which results in ion excitation mainly in one direction. In this paper, we report simulation and experimental studies of the ion excitation in two coordinate directions by applying identical dipolar AC signals to two pairs of electrodes simultaneously. Theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that the ion kinetic energy is higher than that using the conventional CID method. Experimental results show that more activation energy (as determined by the intensity ratio of the a4/b4 fragments from the CID of protonated leucine enkephalin) can be deposited into parent ions in this method. The dissociation rate constant in this method was about 3.8 times higher than that in the conventional method under the same experimental condition, at the Mathieu parameter qu (where u = x, y) value of 0.25. The ion fragmentation efficiency is also significantly improved. Compared with the conventional method, the smaller qu value can be used in this method to obtain the same internal energy deposited into ions. Consequently, the "low mass cut-off" is redeemed and more fragment ions can be detected. This excitation method can be implemented easily without changing any experimental parameters.