PNNL

Abstract

The trapped-ion cell is a key component critical for optimal performance in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry (MS). We have upgraded our 12 Tesla FT-ICR instrument with a new open cylindrical cell that includes four additional cylindrical segments that serve as compensation electrodes. The DC potential on the additional segments can be set to specific pre-calculated values to suppress DC trapping field anharmonicity, in an effort to improve coherence of the ion cyclotron motion and minimize deviations from the calibration function of the ideal cell. Alternatively, the compensation potentials can be set equal to potentials of adjacent cell electrodes, which creates a DC potential distribution equivalent to that of a regular open cylindrical cell. The initial experimental characterization of both the compensated and open cell configurations was performed using ESI direct infusion of a peptide mixture. Operating the compensated cell at increased post-excitation radii resulted in improved mass measurement accuracy together with increased signal intensity, while the regular configuration exhibited peak splitting and reduced signal life time under these operating conditions. The observed improvement of the compensated cell performance was consistent with the expected behavior due to the improved DC potential harmonicity. These results confirm that the trapping DC potential harmonicity is significant for optimizing FT-ICR MS performance.