SURFACE ENHANCED RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY DETECTION WITH ION SEPARATION PRE-FILTER
First Claim
1. A device for detecting and identifying ions from an ionized analyte, comprising:
- a) an ion separator for separating a plurality of target ions to be identified from a plurality of ion species ions, wherein said plurality of target ions and said plurality of ion species are formed in the ionization of said ionized analyte;
b) a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) system, comprising;
i) a SERS substrate;
ii) an optical probe; and
iii) a computing means; and
c) a means for establishing a voltage gradient, wherein said voltage gradient is for steering and depositing said target ions onto said SERS substrate,wherein said optical probe is for measuring a spectroscopic signal of said SERS substrate with said deposited target ions, andwherein said computing means is for identifying said target ions based on said spectroscopic signal.
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Abstract
Detecting and identifying ions using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and an ion separation pre-filter, such as an ion spectrometer, are provided. The combination of an ion separator as a pre-filter for SERS provides a highly sensitive detector with very low false alarm rates. Target ions from an ionized sample are identified and separated by the ion separator. The target ions are steered and deposited onto a SERS substrate for Raman spectroscopic analysis with an optical probe. The Raman spectrum is compared with reference spectra and the composition of the sample is identified. The ion current from the target ions can also be measured, preferably concurrently with the Raman spectrum measurement. Types of ion separators include a differential ion mobility spectrometer, an ion mobility spectrometer, or a mass spectrometer.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for detecting and identifying ions from an ionized analyte, comprising:
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a) an ion separator for separating a plurality of target ions to be identified from a plurality of ion species ions, wherein said plurality of target ions and said plurality of ion species are formed in the ionization of said ionized analyte; b) a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) system, comprising; i) a SERS substrate; ii) an optical probe; and iii) a computing means; and c) a means for establishing a voltage gradient, wherein said voltage gradient is for steering and depositing said target ions onto said SERS substrate, wherein said optical probe is for measuring a spectroscopic signal of said SERS substrate with said deposited target ions, and wherein said computing means is for identifying said target ions based on said spectroscopic signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting and identifying ions from an ionized analyte, comprising:
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a) separating a plurality of target ions to be identified from a plurality of ion species, wherein said plurality of target ions and said plurality of ion species are formed in the ionization of said ionized analyte, and wherein said separating is accomplished with an ion separator; b) steering and depositing said target ions onto a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate; c) measuring a spectroscopic signal of said SERS substrate, wherein said target ions are deposited onto said SERS substrate; and d) identifying said target ions based on said spectroscopic signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification