Flexible Microtube Plasma (FμTP) as an Embedded Ionization Source for a Microchip Mass Spectrometer Interface

Dielectric barrier discharges are used as soft ionization sources for mass spectrometers or ion mobility spectrometers, enabling excellent possibilities for analytical applications. A new robust and small-footprint discharge design, flexible microtube plasma (FμTP), developed as a result of ongoing miniaturization and electrode design processes, is presented in this work. This design provides major safety benefits by fitting the electrode into an inert flexible fused silica capillary (tube). Notably, in this context, the small discharge dimensions enable very low gas flows in the range of