Simulation of a Miniature Linear Ion Trap with Half-Round Rod Electrodes

Abstract

The miniaturization of ion trap mass analyzers is an important direction in the development of mass spectrometers. In this work, we proposed two models of miniaturized HreLIT with a field radius of about 2 mm based on the existing research on conventional HreLIT and other ion traps, one with ions ejection slits on one pair of electrodes only (2-slit model) and the other with the same slits on all electrodes (4-slit model). The relationship of mass resolution with r/r_x and the “stretch” distance of electrodes in the ejection direction is investigated by theoretical simulations. Trends of electric fields inside the ion traps were discussed as well. The comparable maximum resolution is observed at r/r_x = 2/1.4 in both models, but stretching simulations revealed that the peak resolution of the 2-slit model was higher than that of the other model by about 8%. The highest value of 517 was obtained when stretching 1.1 mm. Furthermore, the resolution of ions with m/z = 119 could exceed 1000 when the scan rate was reduced to 800 Th/s. The mass spectrometry capability of miniature HreLIT has been confirmed theoretically, and it laid the foundation for the subsequent fabrication with MEMS technology.

1. Introduction

Mass spectrometry (MS) is an essential analytical technique for measuring the m/z of ions. Recent developments in mars and lunar exploration [1,2] and public health emergencies [3] have heightened the need for portable mass spectrometers capable of rapid on-site detecting, and the miniaturization of mass analyzers is the key to reducing the size of MS devices. Ion traps consist of simple structures, possessing the capability to multi-stage tandem mass analysis with only one single device, and are superior in miniaturization compared with other mass analyzers. In addition, the low requirements for the supporting experimental conditions are of benefit to satisfying the needs of diverse real-time analysis.

The three-dimensional (3D) ion trap reported by Paul [4] and the two-dimensional linear ion trap (LIT) proposed by Schwartz [5] laid the foundation for modern research of ion trap mass analyzers. The latter provided higher ion capacity and trapping efficiency. Both ion traps were built with hyperbolic-shaped electrodes that require extremely high machining and assembly accuracy, and the performance is sensitive to machining errors. Therefore, a growing number of ion traps with simplified electrodes based on the two models were reported to reduce the difficulties of preparation with acceptable performance loss. For example, a cylindrical ion trap [6,7] (CIT) was proposed to simplify the electrodes of a 3D ion trap; a rectilinear ion trap [8] (RIT) with planar-shaped electrodes combined some advantages of LIT and CIT; a triangular-electrode linear ion trap [9] (TeLIT) was built by modifying RIT, etc. Offering a resolution higher than 4000, the LIT-based half-round rod electrodes linear ion trap (HreLIT) reported by Li et al. [10] is conducive to fabricating compact analyzers. Various novel ion traps with electrodes that are easy to prepare could have significant applications for miniaturization.

The common ion traps with simplified electrodes were reported with field radii ranging from 4 mm to 6 mm and have been applied in benchtop or over-the-shoulder mass spectrometers. Despite the certain size reduction, there has been an increasing interest in high-performance palm portable mass spectrometers with miniature mass analyzers because of nowadays timely detection requirements under complicated conditions. For example, a palm portable mass spectrometer (PPMS) reported by Sam Yang Chemical Company [11] has a size of 82 × 77 × 245 mm; the MX908 developed by 908 Devices [12] is a little bigger but just 298 × 216 × 122 mm in size, both instruments are capable of detecting environmental components with single-handed operation. In order to miniaturize ion traps, micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) technology, which could break the bottleneck of conventional processing methods, has been exerting a tremendous fascination on researchers. In this case, a Halo ion trap [13] with a field radius of only 0.5 mm was fabricated with MEMS technology, but the low resolution was confirmed; Yu et al. [14] reported an RIT with a field radius of 1.5 mm, being built by stereo lithography apparatus (SLA) and offering a slightly higher resolution of 100; Huang and co-worker [15] optimized a MEMS-based RIT by working on the relationships of ion trapping efficiency with length–width ratio and radio frequency (RF) voltage; Szyszka et al. [16] combined the MEMS with 3D printing technology successfully to fabricate a miniature quadrupole mass analyzer, but this structure has lower resolution and ion capacity compared with ion traps. The miniature RIT array proposed in our laboratory [17] was prepared by MEMS technology, and the resolution could exceed 700. However, there remains much room for improvement compared with ion traps in conventional size. Definitely, MEMS technology plays a prominent role in the miniaturization of mass analyzers, and there exists an obvious conflict between mini size and high performance. The exploration of more balanced miniature ion traps with different structures is indispensable.

LIT, CIT, and RIT are widely applied in miniaturized ion traps. Although CIT facilitates miniaturization, the physical limits of 3D ion traps determine the low resolution and charge capacity. For LIT and RIT, on the one hand, the closer the shape of electrodes is to the hyperboloid, the more ideal the quadrupole field will be. On the other hand, the mass resolution could be improved significantly by optimizing the geometric parameters in a fixed shape of electrodes [5,18]. The excessive high-order fields introduced by the oversimplified planar-shaped electrodes of the RIT are more pronounced at micro size, and in consequence, the resolution would be limited to an unremarkable range even with sufficient optimization [17]. Meanwhile, the promising HreLIT with a field radius of about 5 mm provides excellent MS capability, and the performance could be further improved after optimization [19,20]. Its performance at micro size is worth investigating accordingly.

In the present work, the miniature HreLIT with a field radius of about 2 mm was modeled and optimized, referring to the methods applied by conventional ion traps. How the slits on electrodes, field radius, and “stretch” distance of electrodes in ejection direction affect, MS capability was investigated by computer simulations. The objective was to explore the feasibility of miniaturizing HreLIT and lay the foundation for future fabrication based on the non-silicon MEMS technology in our laboratory.

2. Simulation Methods

2.1. Calculation of Electric Fields

The motion of ions in HreLIT would be determined directly by the internal electric fields. Its two-dimensional electric potential φ(x, y) satisfies the Laplace equation:

$${\nabla }^2\phi (x, y)=0,$$

(1)

and there is no analytical solution, and φ(x, y) could be described by the real part of the accumulation of fields [18]:

$$\phi \left(x, y\right){=V}_{\mathit{RF}}\mathrm{Re}\left[{{\displaystyle \sum }}_{n=0}^{\infty }{A}_n{\left(\frac{x+\mathit{iy}}{r_0}\right)}^n\right], n\in N,$$

(2)

where r₀ is the field radius, V_RF means the amplitude of RF voltage, A_n represents the amplitude of 2n-order fields, and i is the imaginary unit.

SIMION (Adaptas Scientific Instrument Services (Adaptas SIS), Palmer, MA, USA) could solve the approximate potential at each lattice point inside the model by the finite difference method (FDM) and generate potential array (PA) files. Then the fast Fourier transform (FFT) in PAN33 [21] provides an efficient approach to calculating the high-order fields according to it.

2.2. Modeling and Simulation

Optimizing the fields remains a key process in the design of ion traps since appropriate high-order fields could be mutually compensated [18] and improve the MS capability. For this purpose, adjusting the ratio of electrode size to field radius (r/r₀) and “stretching” electrodes in the ejection direction were reported to be effective. Douglas and co-workers [18] indicated that the r/r₀ of LIT with round rod electrodes significantly affected the performance. Schwartz and co-workers [5] “stretched” the electrodes in the ejection direction by 0.75 mm away from the geometric center to compensate for the fields, and this approach was referred to in our research.

Therefore, with a fixed electrode radius, the effect of varying the field radius and “stretching” the electrodes in the ejection direction on the resolution was investigated by calculating fields and simulating the motion of ions. In view of the harmful high-order fields introduced by slits on electrodes [10,22], two HreLIT models have been developed for discussion according to the TeLIT with four slits [9], one with ions ejection slits on one pair of electrodes only (2-slit model, Figure 1a) and the other with the same slits on all electrodes (4-slit model, Figure 1b). The width of slits (d) was 300 μm. The radius of all electrodes represented by r remained 2 mm. The shortest distance from electrodes to the geometric center (field radius) was r_x, and that from the electrodes in the ejection direction was r_y.

Describing the models with Geometry Files, the potential inside ion traps was solved by SIMION 8.1, and the following PA files were generated. Based on this, the fields and motion of ions have been calculated with PAN33 and AXSIM (PAN33 version 3.3.5 and AXSIM version 5.9.0 were developed by Shimadzu Research Laboratory (Europe) Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom.), respectively.

When simulated with a hard sphere collision model, ions (m/z = 117, 119, and 121, each with the number of 100) with no initial velocity were placed close to the geometric center randomly. The helium (300 K, 0.13 Pa) was used as a buffer gas. The AC signal was applied to electrodes in the y direction, and the RF signal, which confined ions and altered their vibrational frequency, was applied between the electrodes in the x and y directions. The frequency of AC was one-third of that of RF, and the scan rate was 2250 Th/s. As the amplitude of the RF signal increased, consequently, ions were excited and ejected from the slits in sequence because of matched frequencies of vibration and the AC signal. AXSIM analyzed this process and recorded the time and positions of ejected ions. These data were read by IC5Filter, and mass spectrums, which were used to estimate MS capability, were output immediately. In this way, the optimal resolution corresponding to r/r_x was found by continuously changing r_x. Then the “stretch” simulations of r_y at this r/r_x were performed likewise, and finally, the relationships between mass resolution and the parameters above were obtained.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. The Impact of r/r_x

The “stretch” distance Δr_y kept 0.75 mm (r_y = r_x + 0.75) and r_x was extracted at intervals of 0.1 mm within 1.0~2.0 mm. The mass resolution trends are shown in Figure 2a according to AXSIM calculating the motion of ions at a scan rate of 2250 Th/s. A comparison of the mass spectrum at r/r_x = 2/1, 2/1.4, and 2/2 (Figure 3) showed the low resolution and intensity when the r_x was extracted at the interval endpoints. Even a significant distortion could be observed in the 4-slit model. For both cases, the comparable maximum resolution with high intensity, 438 and 459, respectively, were measured at r/r_x = 2/1.4.

Figure 4 shows the proportions of high-order fields. The A₄/A₂ and A₆/A₂ of both models changed remarkably with increasing r_x. Different from the V-shape trend, the higher-order fields provided smooth curves at lower levels. Obviously, there existed more high-order fields in the 4-slit model since the extra slits led to more severe distortions. Within 1.0~1.4 mm, the resolution increased due to the rapid decrease in A₄/A₂ and A₆/A₂, but neither model showed the best resolution when A₄/A₂ and A₆/A₂ tended to 0. It probably owed to the non-negligible higher-order fields (such as A₈/A₂ and A₁₀/A₂), which became the dominant factor affecting the MS capability at this r_x.

3.2. The Impact of “Stretch” Distance

The “stretch” simulations of the y electrodes were performed with r_x being fixed at 1.4 mm according to the previous results. To avoid serious distortions in the mass spectrum, the “stretch” distance Δr_y is extracted at intervals of 0.1 mm within 0.3~1.7 mm (the correspondences between Δr_y and r_y are shown in

Table 1. The partial correspondences between Δr_y and radius.

Radius (mm)	Δry (mm)
	0.3	0.5	0.7	0.9	1.1	1.3	1.5	1.7
rx	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4
ry	1.7	1.9	2.1	2.3	2.5	2.7	2.9	3.1

). AXSIM calculated the motion of ions at 2250 Th/s, and resolution trends were graphed, as shown in Figure 2b. Both models showed an overall trend of increasing, stabilizing, and decreasing with the increase in Δr_y. For the 2-slit model, the resolution exceeded 400 when Δr_y was between 0.7 mm and 1.4 mm, with the highest value of 517 observed at Δr_y = 1.1 mm. Differently, the peak resolution of the 4-slit model was obtained at Δr_y = 1.3 mm, which corresponded to the value of 478, but a mass resolution higher than 400 could be measured in a larger range (0.6~1.6 mm) of Δr_y.

It should be noted that the 2-slit model at Δr_y = 1.7 mm did not perform better than at Δr_y = 1.6 mm, as shown in Figure 2, because the mass spectrum manifested a severe distortion at Δr_y = 1.7 mm, a phenomenon that did not occur at Δr_y = 1.6 mm (Figure 5).

The proportions of high-order fields are shown in Figure 6. In the 2-slit model, the A₄/A₂ and A₆/A₂ dominating MS capability kept at a high level and changed apparently during the electrodes “stretching” process. The A₈/A₂ and higher-order fields were relatively low and varied slowly, so their impact on resolution, in contrast, was negligible. When Δr_y ranged within 0.9~1.3 mm, where A₄/A₂ decreased rapidly with A₆/A₂ increasing slightly, the 2-slit model offered almost the same high resolution. It is probably because the A₄/A₂ and A₆/A₂ provided commendable compensation for high-order fields in this case, with 1.2% A₄/A₂ and 0.74% A₆/A₂ corresponding to the peak resolution of 517. As for the 4-slit model, the fields higher than A₆/A₂ remained steady as well. The high resolution could be observed with Δr_y ranging from 0.7 mm to 1.5 mm, a longer closed interval than in the 2-slit model. The appropriate A₄/A₂ and A₆/A₂ could likewise explain these similar trends in Figure 2b.

Comparing the proportion curves of high-order fields in detail, it could be found that more harmful fields were introduced in the model with four slits on electrodes. For example, its peak of A₄/A₂ was 0.9% higher than that in the 2-slit model and reached 2.24%; A₁₀/A₂, A₁₂/A_2, and A₁₄/A₂ increased significantly, even doubling or tripling. More unexpected high-order fields led to a slightly lower peak resolution of 478 for the 4-slit model than 517 for the 2-slit model in “stretch” simulations.

3.3. Further Investigation of MS Capability

The scan rate [23] plays an important role in MS capability, and its impact should be paid attention to. In practice, researchers would change the scan rate to obtain high resolution or intensity according to requirements. A high scan rate provides higher intensity sacrificing mass resolution, while a lower scan rate is the opposite. However, analyzing with an extremely low scan rate would lead to unacceptable intensity and serious distortion in the mass spectrum instead of a remarkable resolution. All the previous simulations were performed at the scan rate of 2250 Th/s. Based on the 2-slit model with the best performance in the simulations above (r_x = 1.4 mm, r_y = 2.5 mm), we investigated the MS capability at a lower scan rate while other parameters were kept unchanged. As shown in Figure 7, at 1250 Th/s and 800 Th/s, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) decreased to 0.17 and 0.12, respectively, and the corresponding mass resolutions were 670 and 1017.

In a similar size, the previously proposed miniature four-channel RIT [17] (r_x = 1.4 mm, r_y = 1.61 mm of a single channel) in our laboratory optimized the proportions of high-order fields and improved the analysis performance compared with the single-channel one, but at the cost of almost quadrupled volume and higher amplitude or frequency of the RF signal. The mass resolution of miniature HreLIT in this work with a tiny size between the single-channel and four-channel RIT was the most outstanding in these three ion traps. The merits of cambered electrodes were proved again compared with planar-shaped electrodes in the miniaturization of ion traps.

4. Conclusions

In order to verify the feasibility of developing miniature HreLIT, two models with two slits and four slits on electrodes, respectively, were proposed and investigated by theoretical simulations. The results indicated that at 2250 Th/s, both models performed comparably and excellently when r/r_x = 2/1.4. Furthermore, the “stretch” simulations on this basis manifested that the 2-slit model possessed about 8% higher peak resolution, but the 4-slit model performed well in 0.6~1.6 mm of Δr_y, a wider range compared with 0.7~1.4 mm. The highest resolution of 517 was obtained by the 2-slit model with Δr_y = 1.1 mm (r_y = 2.5 mm). This value could be significantly improved with a reduction in scan rate at the acceptable cost of intensity. Consequently, the resolution of 1017, 44% higher than that of the previous miniature four-channel RIT, was observed at a scan rate of 800 Th/s. In future research, MEMS technology will be applied to fabricate the miniature HreLIT, and its MS capability will be characterized experimentally.