Electrochemical solid-state field-emission ion source

A method of electrochemically emitting ions from a field-emission ion source, said method comprising:

• (i) providing a device comprising:
• (a) an ion conductor comprising a protuberance within a protuberance region, wherein said ion conductor contains mobile ions;
• (b) a first electrode disposed distally from, and not in contact with, said ion conductor, wherein said protuberance region is on the same side of said first electrode as said ion conductor;
• (c) a second electrode in contact with said ion conductor, wherein said second electrode is electrically isolated from said first electrode;
• (d) an electrical insulator between said ion conductor and said first electrode;
• and
• (e) an atom reservoir that is electrochemically configured to controllably supply or receive atoms;
• (ii) applying an electrode potential between said first electrode and said second electrode;
• (iii) oxidizing or reducing said atoms in said atom reservoir, and transporting said atoms into and through said ion conductor as said mobile ions;
• and
• (iv) emitting said mobile ions from said protuberance.