An atmospheric pressure ultrahigh frequency plasma jet for ambient mass spectrometry

A device for formation of an ultrahigh frequency atmospheric pressure plasma jet is presented. A nonthermal stable argon plasma jet was formed at the frequency of 850 MHz at forward and reflected powers of 9 and 3 W, respectively. Plasma jet was utilized as an ionization source for ambient mass spectrometry. Volatile organic compounds (benzene, acetone, propan-2-ol, acetic acid, and acetonitrile) were ionized by the plasma jet and detected by the mass spectrometer. The results suggest that the UHF plasma jet can serve as a device suitable for producing ions for ambient mass spectrometry.