Chemical ionization source, the reagent gas is present in large excess compared to the analyte. Electrons entering the source with energy around 200-500 eV will preferentially ionize the reagent gas. Then, the ion/molecule reactions produces more stable reagent ions and the resultant collisions with other reagent gas molecules will create an ionization plasma. Positive and negative ions of the analyte are formed by reactions with this plasma. The following reactions are possible with methane as the reagent gas. If ammonia is the reagent gas, For isobutane as the reagent gas, Self chemical ionization is possible if the reagent ion is an ionized
Cathode the discharge. Cold cathodes may also emit electrons by photoelectric emission. These are often called "photocathodes" and are used in phototubes used in scientific instruments and image intensifier tubes used in night vision goggles. In a semiconductor diode, the cathode is the N–doped layer of the PN junction with a high density of free electrons due to doping, and an equal density of fixed positive charges, which are the dopants that have been thermally ionized. In the anode, the converse applies: It features a high density of free "holes" and consequently fixed negative dopants which have captured an electron (hence