Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) is a technique used to identify and analyze chemical substances by measuring how charged particles (ions) move through a gas under an electric field. When a sample is introduced, it’s turned into ions, which then drift through a tube filled with inert gas. Different ions move at different speeds based on their size, shape, and charge. By measuring these speeds, IMS can quickly and accurately identify substances such as drugs, explosives, or environmental pollutants, making it valuable in security, forensic, and environmental testing.