Patent ID: 8232520

Claim:
A ionization source device for ionizing analytes in liquid phase, to be further analyzed by mass spectrometry, comprising: (a) an inlet assembly ( 11 ) for introducing and nebulizing an analyte solution; (b) an ionization chamber ( 3 ) in fluid communication with said inlet assembly ( 11 ) for receiving from said inlet assembly ( 11 ) the analyte solution, said ionization chamber ( 3 ) being provided with an outlet orifice ( 1 ) for communicating between the ionization chamber ( 3 ) and one of a analyzer and a filter of the mass spectrometer, (c) a plate ( 4 ) in said ionization chamber ( 3 ), having at least one active surface ( 4 ′) that faces an internal aperture of the inlet assembly ( 11 ), wherein means are provided for applying and combining different physical effects to said at least one active surface ( 4 ′), said means consisting of at least two of the followings: a power supply ( 26 ) connected to the surface ( 4 ′) through electrically conductive material for one of electrically charging and polarizing the surface ( 4 ′); a power supply ( 26 ) connected to a piezoelectric apparatus for producing ultrasounds in a region of said surface ( 4 ′); one of UV-VIS, IR laser, a first lamp ( 21 ) and a second lamp ( 22 ) connected to an external power supply ( 27 ) for irradiating light onto said surface ( 4 ′); an external power supply ( 28 ) connected to a faraday box through a connector ( 20 ) for applying microwaves to the ionization chamber ( 3 ); a closed tube ( 25 ) connected to said active surface ( 4 ′) and to a pump for creating a differential pressure; a power supply ( 31 ) for applying electric potential to electric resistances inserted in the surface ( 4 ′) for heating said surface; a power supply ( 31 ) connected to a peltier apparatus positioned on the surface ( 4 ′) for cooling said surface; whereby molecules of analyte are ionized on the active surface by the combined physical effects and focalized into a mass spectrometer analyzer entrance ( 1 ), wherein said inlet assembly ( 11 ) comprises an inlet hole ( 10 ) for feeding the analyte solution and an internal duct in fluid communication with said inlet hole ( 10 ), said internal duct comprising a nebulization region ( 12 ) and an electrically charged region ( 13 ) and ending into said ionization chamber ( 3 ), wherein at least one of said active surface ( 4 ′) and the regions ( 12 , 13 ) are exposed to ultrasounds at radiofrequency between 180 and 200 Hz.