Spark ionization
Encyclopedia
Spark ionization is a method used to produce gas phase ion
s from a solid sample. The prepared solid sample is vaporized and partially ionized by an intermittent discharge or spark. This technique is primarily used in the field of mass spectrometry
. When incorporated with a mass spectrometer the complete instrument is referred to as a spark ionization mass spectrometer or as a spark source mass spectrometer (SSMS).
s (usually either carbon
or silver
) between which a high-voltage electric spark
is produced, ionizing the material at the tips of the electrodes. If metals are being analyzed the sample may serve as an electrode.
geometry, and use either photosensitive plates for ion detection or linear channeltron detector arrays.
Ion
An ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge. The name was given by physicist Michael Faraday for the substances that allow a current to pass between electrodes in a...
s from a solid sample. The prepared solid sample is vaporized and partially ionized by an intermittent discharge or spark. This technique is primarily used in the field of mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles.It is used for determining masses of particles, for determining the elemental composition of a sample or molecule, and for elucidating the chemical structures of molecules, such as peptides and...
. When incorporated with a mass spectrometer the complete instrument is referred to as a spark ionization mass spectrometer or as a spark source mass spectrometer (SSMS).
Sample preparation
Typically samples are physically incorporated into two conductive electrodeElectrode
An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit...
s (usually either carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
or silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
) between which a high-voltage electric spark
Electric spark
An electric spark is a type of electrostatic discharge that occurs when an electric field creates an ionized electrically conductive channel in air producing a brief emission of light and sound. A spark is formed when the electric field strength exceeds the dielectric field strength of air...
is produced, ionizing the material at the tips of the electrodes. If metals are being analyzed the sample may serve as an electrode.
Technical information
Mass analyzers are typically Mattauch-HerzogSector instrument
A sector instrument is a general term for a class of mass spectrometer that uses a static electric or magnetic sector or some combination of the two as a mass analyzer. A popular combination of these sectors has been the BEB...
geometry, and use either photosensitive plates for ion detection or linear channeltron detector arrays.