Ion mobility (IM) is rapidly gaining attention for the separation and analysis of biomolecules due to the ability to distinguish the shapes of ions. However, conventional constant electric field drift tube IM separations have limited resolving power, constrained by practical limitations on the path length and maximum applied voltage. The implementation of traveling waves (TW) in IM removes the latter limitation, allowing higher resolution to be achieved using extended path lengths. Both of these can be readily obtained in structures for lossless ion manipulations (SLIM), which are fabricated from arrays of electrodes patterned on two parallel surfaces where potentials are applied to generate appropriate electric fields between the surfaces. Here we have investigated the relationship between the primary SLIM variables, such as electrode dimensions, inter-surface gap, and the applied TW voltages, that directly impact the fields experienced by ions. Ion trajectory simulations and theoretical calculations have been utilized to understand the dependence of SLIM geometry and effective electric fields on IM resolution. The variables explored impact both ion confinement and the observed IM resolution using SLIM modules.

中文翻译：

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用于无损离子操作 (SLIM) 的行波结构中离子迁移分离应用场的表征

由于能够区分离子的形状，离子迁移率 (IM) 在生物分子的分离和分析方面迅速受到关注。然而，传统的恒定电场漂移管 IM 分离具有有限的分辨率，受限于路径长度和最大施加电压的实际限制。IM 中行波 (TW) 的实现消除了后一个限制，允许使用扩展的路径长度实现更高的分辨率。这两者都可以在用于无损离子操作 (SLIM) 的结构中轻松获得，该结构由在两个平行表面上图案化的电极阵列制成，在两个平行表面上施加电位以在表面之间产生适当的电场。在这里，我们研究了主要 SLIM 变量之间的关系，例如电极尺寸、表面间隙和施加的 TW 电压直接影响离子所经历的场。离子轨迹模拟和理论计算已被用于了解 SLIM 几何形状和有效电场对 IM 分辨率的依赖性。探索的变量影响离子限制和使用 SLIM 模块观察到的 IM 分辨率。