Non-contact Measurement of Electrostatic Fields: Verification of Modeled Potentials within Ion Mobility Spectrometer Drift Tube Designs

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2713424· OSTI ID:919549

Scott, Jill R; Tremblay, Paul L

The heart of an ion mobility spectrometer is the drift region where the ion separation occurs. While the electrostatic potentials within a drift tube design can be modeled, no method for validating the electrostatic field has previously been reported. Two basic drift tube designs were modeled using SIMION 7.0 to reveal the expected electrostatic fields: 1) a traditional “stacked” alternating electrodes and insulators and 2) a truly linear drift tube. One version of the stacked electrode/insulator drift tube and two versions of linear drift tubes were then fabricated. The stacked alternating electrodes/insulators were connected through a resistor network to generate the electrostatic gradient in the drift tube. The two linear drift tube designs consisted of two types of resistive drift tubes with one tube consisting of a resistive coating within an insulating tube and the other tube composed of semiconducting ferrites. The electrostatic fields within each type of drift tube were then evaluated using a non-contact method using a Kelvin-Zisman type electrostatic voltmeter and probe. The experimental results were then compared with the electrostatic fields predicted by SIMION. Both the modeling and experimental measurements reveal that the electrostatic fields within a stacked IMS drift tube are only pseudo-linear, while the electrostatic fields within a resistive drift tube can approach perfect linearity.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC07-99ID-13727
• OSTI ID: 919549
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-06-11988; RSINAK; TRN: US200822%%396
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 78, Issue 3; ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 - INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
47 - OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
COATINGS
DRIFT TUBES
ELECTRODES
ELECTROSTATICS
FERRITES
ION MOBILITY
RESISTORS
SPECTROMETERS
VERIFICATION
VOLTMETERS
Drift Tube
Electrostatic Potentials
Insulators
Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Kelvin-Zisman Probe
SIMION