LTP probe

Low temperature plasma (LTP) jets enable the ambient ionization and desorption of molecules from solid, liquid, and gaseous materials. Employed in ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS), LTP jets make the direct detection of compounds from surfaces and complex matrices possible with minimal or no prior sample manipulation. In this review, we analyze LTP-driven ion processes and compare the technical concepts and characteristics of different LTP probe designs. We also show the possibilities for coupling LTP probes with chromatographs, ion mobility cells, and mass analyzers. Further, we present a broad range of applications that demonstrate the analytical performance of LTP jets, including the detection of explosives and illicit drugs, food analysis, chemical reaction monitoring, petrolomics, high throughput screening, identification of microbes, and blood analysis. We also point out current trends in LTP-MS development, such as 3D printed devices, miniaturization and portable devic