Spark ionization

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Spark ionization (also known as spark source ionization(deprecated)) is a method used to produce gas phase ions from a solid sample. The prepared solid sample is vaporized and partially ionized by an intermittent discharge or spark. ^[1] This technique is primarily used in the field of mass spectrometry. When incorporated with a mass spectrometer the complete instrument is referred to as a spark ionization mass spectrometer or as a spark source mass spectrometer (SSMS).^[2]

Typically samples are physically incorporated into two conductive electrodes (usually either carbon or silver) between which a high-voltage arc is produced, ionizing the material at the tips of the electrodes. If metals are being analyzed the sample may serve as an electrode. Mass analyzers are typically Mattauch-Herzog geometry, and use either photosensitive plates for ion detection or linear channeltron detector arrays.

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