A new, in-house-developed mass spectrometry imaging ion source was unveiled at the National Academic Conference on Mass Spectrometry Analysis, with its core technology receiving high praise from the industry

From 22 to 25 May 2026, the 4th National Academic Conference on Mass Spectrometry Analysis organised by the Chinese Chemical Society was held at the Beijing International Convention Centre. Under the theme “Mass Spectrometry Driving New Frontiers in Interdisciplinary Research”, the conference attracted over 1,700 experts, scholars and researchers from across the country, establishing itself as one of the most influential high-level academic exchange events in the field of mass spectrometry in China. Hefei Xinceyuan Instrument Technology Co., Ltd. exhibited its independently developed series of mass spectrometry imaging ion sources and the full range of ProC mass spectrometers; the company’s Chief Scientist, Professor Pan Yang, was invited to deliver a keynote academic presentation.

Independently developed mass spectrometry imaging ion sources take centre stage at the exhibition

During the exhibition, Hefei New Ceyuan’s stand showcased two core mass spectrometry imaging source products: the MSI DPI electrospray/photochemical ionisation mass spectrometry imaging source and the MSI LDPI laser/photochemical ionisation mass spectrometry imaging source. Both products are based on post-photoionisation (PPI) technology. By incorporating a vacuum ultraviolet photochemical secondary ionisation unit following conventional desorption and ionisation, they achieve high-sensitivity spatial imaging of both polar and non-polar molecules.

The MSI DPI mass spectrometry imaging source employs a dual-ionisation architecture combining desorption electrospray ionisation (DESI) and photochemical secondary ionisation, offering a spatial resolution of 20–200 μm and signal intensity 1–4 orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional DESI imaging sources. This product is compatible with the three leading mass spectrometry brands—Agilent, AB SCIEX and Thermo—and laboratories already equipped with mass spectrometers need only install the imaging source to establish a complete mass spectrometry imaging system.

The MSI LDPI laser/photochemical ionisation mass spectrometry imaging source utilises a technical architecture combining transmission laser desorption with post-laser photochemical ionisation, achieving a spatial resolution of 2–3 μm, which is among the best in the industry. This product requires no matrix spraying and is free from matrix background interference; it can detect compounds with a charge-to-mass ratio as low as m/z 70, providing molecular imaging solutions at the single-cell scale for fields such as life sciences.

According to technical staff at the stand, researchers from several universities and the Chinese Academy of Sciences showed keen interest in the two mass spectrometry imaging ion source products. In-depth discussions took place on-site regarding sample testing with prototypes, customised mass spectrometers and product application case studies. Following the exhibition, the company’s technical team continued to liaise with visiting experts to advance future collaboration.

Professor Pan Yang Invited to Deliver a Presentation on the Cutting Edge of Mass Spectrometry Imaging

During the conference, the company’s Chief Scientist, Professor Pan Yang, was invited to deliver a specialised academic presentation, sharing the latest research findings on the cutting-edge applications of mass spectrometry imaging and in situ mass spectrometry.

Professor Pan Yang’s team has long been dedicated to the development of post-photoionisation mass spectrometry imaging technology, having published several cover articles in *Analytical Chemistry*. Among these, the 2024 publication on transmission-mode ambient-pressure laser desorption/ post-photoionisation mass spectrometry imaging method (t-AP-LDI/PI-MSI), published in 2024, achieved a spatial resolution of 4 μm. In imaging mouse hippocampal tissue, it clearly distinguished subregional structures such as the dentate gyrus, the arm of the superior colliculus and the hippocampal horn, whilst enhancing the detection sensitivity of various metabolites—including histamine, adenosine, choline, cholesterol and glutamate—by 2–3 orders of magnitude. This achievement provides a fundamental breakthrough in addressing the trade-off between resolution and sensitivity in mass spectrometry imaging ion sources.

The presentation attracted widespread attention from attending experts. Several researchers in the field of mass spectrometry imaging noted that post-photoionisation technology demonstrates significant advantages in eliminating polarity discrimination and enhancing the detection capability of non-polar molecules, thereby providing new tool options for research areas such as pathological diagnosis, pharmacokinetics and plant metabolism.

The full range of ProC mass spectrometers was exhibited simultaneously

In addition to mass spectrometry imaging sources, Hefei Xinceyuan also exhibited the full range of ProC mass spectrometers, including the ProC-1 and ProC-2 online time-of-flight mass spectrometers, the ProC-1C in-situ catalytic/pyrolysis mass spectrometry analysis system, and the ProC-1S multi-component dynamic analysis system for flue gas. These products are utilised across a range of industries, including chemistry and chemical engineering, tobacco, tea and coffee roasting, fermentation and food, as well as in applications such as in-situ online diagnostics of pyrolysis and gasification products from coal, biomass and solid waste.

When paired with the MSI DPI or MSI LDPI mass spectrometry imaging ion sources, the ProC series mass spectrometers can form a comprehensive technical platform ranging from online mass spectrometry analysis to spatial molecular imaging, meeting testing requirements across multiple fields including environmental monitoring, energy and chemical engineering, food and drug safety, and life sciences.

About Hefei Xinceyuan Instrument Technology Co., Ltd.

Established in 2026, Hefei Xinceyuan Instrument Technology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specialising in mass spectrometers and supporting equipment, integrating R&D, production, sales and technical services. With independent control over core technologies as the foundation of its development, the company has assembled an R&D team covering multiple fields including mass spectrometry principles, opto-mechatronics, software and vacuum technology, and has established a full-chain R&D and production system ranging from core components to complete products.

The company’s Chief Scientist, Professor Pan Yang, is a professor at the National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory of the University of Science and Technology of China. He has long been engaged in the research and development of mass spectrometry imaging technology and instruments; his team’s series of achievements in DESI/PI and t-AP-LDI/PI mass spectrometry imaging methods have been published in renowned journals in the field of analytical chemistry, such as *Analytical Chemistry*.

Hefei Xinceyuan has stated that it will continue to focus on the research, development and upgrading of mass spectrometry imaging and in-situ online mass spectrometry technologies, whilst adhering to domestic technological innovation, with the aim of supporting high-quality development in domestic scientific research and industry through high-performance mass spectrometry equipment.