Patent ID: 7910377

Claim:
An apparatus for separating at least one compound capable of having catalytic activity as an ion from other components in a sample and for soft-landing gas phase ions of the compound on a surface, the apparatus comprising: an ionizer apparatus for converting the sample into the gas phase ions; a heated capillary distal to the ionizer, wherein the heated capillary transfers the ions into a first vacuum region; an ion funnel connecting a distal end of the first vacuum region and a proximal end of a second vacuum region, wherein the ion funnel focuses the ions through an aperture into the second vacuum region, wherein the second vacuum region contains a bent square quadrupole for guiding the ions through a 90° turn; and a skimmer which connects a distal end of the second vacuum region and a proximal end of a third vacuum region, wherein the third vacuum region contains each of a first set of Einzel lenses proximal to a rectilinear ion trap (RIT) mass analyzer for focusing the ions into a beam of ions for entry into the RIT mass analyzer, and a second set of Einzel lenses distal to the RIT mass analyzer for controlling velocity and focusing for soft-landing the ions of the compound onto the surface, the surface being distal to the second set of Einzel lenses.