Select the Ion Source icon to open the Ion Source Properties pane, then specify your ion source parameters.

 

NOTE

  • Hover the pointer over a parameter name to display the tooltip description.
  • When you change the value of a parameter, it appears in bold until you save the method.
    – A red highlighted parameter box indicates that the value is out of the operational range.
    – A yellow highlighted parameter box indicates that the value is not recommended.
  • If you installed the optional Thermo Scientific FAIMS Pro Duo system, the FAIMS parameters appear in this properties pane.
  • Select the Summary tab to view the instrument method settings.

TIP

You can copy the ion source parameters from the Tune application and paste them to the Method Editor.

 

The following table describes the parameters in the Ion Source Properties pane.

Parameter

Description

Ion Source Type

Specify the ion source type from the drop-down list.

  • NSI (nano-electrospray ionization)
  • H-ESI (heated-electrospray ionization)
  • APCI (atmospheric pressure chemical ionization)
  • ESI (electrospray ionization)
  • OptiSpray

Spray Voltage

(Available in ESI, H-ESI, NSI, Paper Spray, and OptiSpray modes.)

Specify the spray voltage type from the following options:

  • Static (default): The spray voltage does not change with time.
  • Time Dependent: The spray voltage changes with time according to the positive ion and negative ion parameter settings.

When Time Dependent is selected, a table appears with the following options:

  • Time (min): Specify the time (in minutes) when the voltage changes to the specified value.
  • Voltage (V): Specify a voltage setting
    • Range (Positive Ion): 0–6,000 (ESI, H-ESI, Paper Spray )
    • Range (Positive Ion): 0–3,000 (NSI and OptiSpray)
    • Range (Negative Ion): 0–5,500 (ESI, H-ESI, Paper Spray)
    • Range (Negative Ion): 0–2,500 (NSI and OptiSpray)

Buttons in the Time Dependent table:

  • Add: Select to add a row to the table.
  • Delete: Highlight a row, then select to delete a row from the table.
  • Import: Import data from a file (.csv, .txt, or .xml).
  • Export: Export data from a file (.csv, .txt, or .xml).

Positive Ion (V)

(Available when Spray Voltage is set to Static.)

The spray voltage (in volts) for the positive ion polarity mode.

Range: 0–6,000; default: 3,500 (ESI and H-ESI)
Range: 0–3,000; default: 1,200 (NSI)
Range: 0–3,000; default: 1,800 (OptiSpray)

Negative Ion (V)

(Available when Spray Voltage is set to Static.)

The spray voltage (in volts) for the negative ion polarity mode.

Range: 0–5,500; default: 2,500 (ESI and H-ESI)
Range: 0–2,500; 600 (NSI)
Range: 0–2,500; 1,500 (OptiSpray)

Pos Ion Discharge Current (µA)

(Available in APCI mode.)

The ion discharge current (in microamperes) for the positive ion polarity mode.

Range: 0–100; default: 4

Neg Ion Discharge Current (µA)

(Available in APCI mode.)

The ion discharge current (in microamperes) for the negative ion polarity mode.

Range: 0–100; default: 10

Gas Mode

Specify a gas mode from the drop-down list:

  • Static (default): The gas flow does not change over time.
  • Time Dependent: The gas flow changes with time according to the flow parameter settings.

When you select Time Dependent, a table appears where you set the time and gas settings.

The following options are available in the table:

  • Time (min): The time (in minutes) when the gas setting changes to the specified value.
    • Range: 0 to method duration
  • Sheath Gas (Arb): The sheath gas setting for the set time. This option is available for ESI, H-ESI, APCI, or OptiSpray ion sources.
    • Range: 0–80 (ESI, H-ESI, and APCI)
      Range: 0–25 (OptiSpray)
  • Aux Gas (Arb): The auxiliary gas setting for the set time. This option is available for ESI, H-ESI or APCI ion sources.
    • Range: 0–25
  • Sweep Gas (Arb): The sweep gas setting for the set time. This option is available for NSI, ESI, H-ESI, APCI, or OptiSpray ion sources.
    • Range: 0–20

Sheath Gas (Arb)

(Only available in ESI, H-ESI, APCI, and OptiSpray modes.)

The sheath gas flow rate (in arbitrary units).

Range: 0–80; default: 2 (ESI, H-ESI, and APCI)
Range: 0–25; default: 0 (OptiSpray)

NOTE: The MS forces a minimum set of gas values to maintain positive pressure inside the ESI, H-ESI and APCI sources.

Aux Gas (Arb)

(Only available in ESI, H-ESI, and APCI modes.)

The auxiliary gas flow rate (in arbitrary units). You must set the auxiliary gas to 5 or greater for vaporizer temperatures above 100 °C.

Range: 0–25; default: 2

NOTE: The MS forces a minimum set of gas values to maintain positive pressure inside the ESI, H-ESI, and APCI sources.

Sweep Gas (Arb)

The sweep gas flow rate (in arbitrary units).

Range: 0–20; default: 2 or 0 (OptiSpray)

NOTE: The MS forces a minimum set of gas values to maintain positive pressure inside the source.

Ion Transfer Tube Temp (°C)

The temperature of the ion transfer tube (in degrees Celsius).

Range: 0–400; default: 275

Cartridge Temp (°C)

(Available in OptiSpray mode.)

The temperature of the OptiSpray cartridge (in degrees Celsius).

Range: 35–60; default: 45

NOTE: The infusion cartridge does not have an integrated heating element. This Cartridge Temp value will not be used.

Vaporizer Temp (°C)

(Available in H-ESI and APCI modes.)

The temperature of the vaporizer tube (in degrees Celsius).

The Vaporizer temperature must be lower than 375°C when the combined Aux and Sheath gas is below 20. Increase the combination of Aux and Sheath gas to be higher than 20, or lower the Vaporizer temperature to below 375°C.

Range: 0–650

APPI Lamp

(Available in ESI, H-ESI, and APCI modes.)

Specify the use of the ion source’s optional APPI lamp.

  • Not in Use (default): The instrument method does not use the APPI lamp.
  • On: Turns on the installed APPI lamp
  • Off: Turns off the installed APPI lamp.

Method Editor displays the APPI lamp parameter under the following conditions:

  • You connect the APPI lamp’s USB cable to the instrument.
  • You select a dedicated ion source type in the Thermo Foundation Instrument Configuration window.

NOTE: The MS confirms the state of the APPI lamp before data acquisition starts. If the ion source does not contain the APPI lamp, the data acquisition application displays an error message.

Use Ion Source Settings from Tune

Select this option to use the ion source settings from the Tune application.

Because the instrument method uses the source settings currently applied in the Tune application, the Method Editor application does not display the parameters.

Default: Deselected

Buttons

Copy

Copies the ion source parameters to the Clipboard.

Paste

Pastes the ion source parameters from the Clipboard.