Method of and apparatus for soft ionization of analyte substances

The present invention relates to a device for ionization of analyte substances taking place in a high electrical field at the micro-tips of graphitic, silica, metallic or other dendrites. The invention refers to a method effecting a soft ionization desorption of analyte substances from an adsorbed liquid matrix with an ion current intensity up to more than two orders of magnitude higher than field ionization desorption under similar conditions but without liquid matrix and to an apparatus for ionization of analyte substances consisting of a sample feed pipe to which micro-dendrites are directly coordinated making possible a sample supply to the dendrites without loss and with a total duty cycle time of up to below 90 seconds per sample for application of the analyte to the dendrites, ionization desorption of the molecules of interest, and heating clean of the micro-dendrites ahead of the next application of another sample.