Electrospray emitter
OwnerSteffan Nilsson, Magnus Wetterhall +1inventors
InventorsSteffan Nilsson, Magnus Wetterhall, Jonas Berquist
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Abstract
The invention relates to an electrospray emitter (1′; 1″; 1′″), comprising an essentially tubular member (2; 5; 7) having an inlet end and an outlet end. There is provided a spray aperture (4) in the outlet end, having an inner diameter suitable for the generation of electrospray usable in mass spectrometry. At least a surface portion of the emitter comprises a conductive polymer composition that is stable in conditions prevailing during electrospray.
Claims21
An electrospray emitter (1′;
- 1″;
- 1′″) having a spray aperture (4), wherein at least a surface portion (6;
- 8) of the emitter comprises a conductive polymer composition, said conductive polymer being stable in conditions prevailing during electrospray.
The emitter as claimed in any preceding claim, which is mechanically robust.
The emitter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein conductive additives are integrated at least in the surface region of the polymer composition so as to render it conductive.
The emitter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the emitter is entirely made of a polymeric composition.
The emitter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conductive particles are distributed throughout said conductive polymeric composition.
The emitter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the emitter is made of a transparent polymeric material, and wherein the conductive particles are integrated in the polymer so as to leave at least one transparent window extending from the tip and in the longitudinal direction of the emitter.
The emitter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner diameter of the spray aperture is less than 50 μm, preferably less than 20 μm, and most preferably less than 5 μm.
The emitter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said polymer composition is selected from the group consisting of compositions containing a polymeric matrix and a conductive filler.
The emitter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the polymeric composition comprises a polymeric matrix of polypropylene and wherein the conductive particles are graphite particles.
An electrospray emitter (1′;
- 1″;
- 1′″), comprising
- an essentially hollow member (2;
- 5;
- 7) having an inlet end and an outlet end;
- an electrical contact, interior or exterior, with the sprayed solution where the necessary potential for electrospray formation can be applied, and where the electrochemical reactions for generation of the electrospray current can occur;
- a spray aperture (4) in the outlet end, having an inner diameter suitable for the generation of electrospray usable in mass spectrometry;
- characterized in that
- at least a portion of the emitter is made of a polymeric composition, wherein at least the surface of said polymeric composition has conductive additives, preferably graphite, integrated in the polymeric matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.