Recent advances in the application of ion resonance methods in ion trap mass spectrometers.

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed remarkable advances in ion resonance method design for ion trap mass spectrometers, especially in the context of instrument miniaturization. These developments aim to enhance ion selectivity, fragmentation efficiency, and scanning performance without altering the mechanical structure of the device. In the field of ion isolation, a series of waveform innovations-such as Grid-SWIFT, SWIFTSIN, and SAM-SFM-have been introduced to improve resolution, sensitivity, and computational efficiency. Real-time waveform synthesis strategies have further simplified implementation on portable platforms. For collision-induced dissociation (CID), techniques such as orthogonal excitation and repetitive frequency sweeps have enabled two-dimensional mass spectrometry on compact systems, allowing correlation between precursor and product ions and enriching the dimensionality of dissociation information in both time and frequency domains. In terms of ion scanning, innovations in voltage and frequency scan methods have significantly expanded the detectable mass range and improved mass resolution. Furthermore, the integration of ion mobility analysis with resonance excitation has enabled ultra-high-resolution separation of isomers and chiral compounds. These advancements collectively demonstrate the crucial role of ion resonance methods in overcoming the performance limitations of miniature ion trap mass spectrometers and open up new possibilities for their future development.