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US 10,236,154 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for a porous electrospray emitter
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsPaulo C. Lozano, Steven Mark Arestie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The body can be formed of a porous material compatible with at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. The body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, such that the at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt is capable of being transported through capillarity from the base to the tip.
Claims23
An electrospray emitter comprising:
- an emitter body with a base and a tip;
- a source of ions in fluid communication with the emitter body;
- and
- a first electrode electrically connected to the emitter body through the source of ions.
1 more element
An electrospray thruster comprising:
- a plurality of emitter bodies, wherein each emitter body includes a base and a tip;
- a source of ions in fluid communication with the plurality of emitter bodies;
- and
- a first electrode electrically connected to the plurality of emitter bodies through the source of ions.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- applying a voltage to a source of ions relative to a first electrode using a power source;
- and
- emitting ions, in response to the applied voltage, from a tip of an emitter body in fluid communication with the source of ions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.