As ultra-high resolution mass spectrometers, Orbitraps and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometers (FT-ICR MS) are applied. In our group, two FT-ICR MS intruments at one 7T magnet and one Orbitrap are available.

At the moment, the focus of our FTMS group is the development of analysis method for the characterization of complex mixtures such as petroleum derived samples and combustion aerosols. Besides, we are part of the EU_FT-ICR MS project, a network project of 11 FT-ICR centres across the european union. The option of Trans National Access (TNA) enables researchers and small and medium enterprises to apply for measurement time at the FT-ICR MS instruments of the centres. For more information, check out the official website www.eu-fticr-ms.eu. Another project of our sub group is the AerOrbi project, in which we try to develop a new photoionisation orbitrap mass spectrometer for aerosols. 

Mass spectrometry needs charged molecules - or in other words - ions. Therefore, we develop and optimize different (photo)ionisation techniques for special applications or different sample inlet systems. Each ionisation method and each sample inlet technique has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is important to find for each sample the appropriate inlet technique and preparation as well as a suitable ionisation method, because non of our atmospheric pressure ionisation techniques is able to ionise the whole chemical space. You have to keep in mind that we can only ionise a part of the present molecules and we possibly need to combine several techniques for a comprehansive analysis.