Method and apparatus for producing nanodrops and nanoparticles and thin film deposits therefrom
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsKyekyoon Kim, Choon K. Ryu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing nanodrops which are liquid drops with diameters less than one micron and producing therefrom solid nanoparticles and uniform and patterned film deposits. A liquid precursor is placed in an open ended tube within which is a solid electrically conductive needle which protrudes beyond the open end of the tube. Surface tension of the liquid at the tube end prevents the liquid from flowing from the tube. Mutually repulsive electric charges are injected into the liquid through the needle, causing the surface tension to be overcome to produce a plurality of liquid jets which break up into nanodrops.
Claims18
Apparatus for producing nanodrops comprising
- a. a supply vessel for receiving a liquid precursor,
- b. a hollow tube communicating at one end thereof with said supply vessel for receiving said liquid precursor therefrom and open at the other end thereof,
- c. a solid electrically conductive needle electrode positioned within said tube and having a point extending out of said open end of said tube,
- d. said tube and said needle point having dimensions such that surface tension of said liquid precursor prevents flow of said liquid precursor from said open end of said tube, and
- e. electrical power means for applying a direct current voltage to said needle whereby charges are injected into said liquid precursor adjacent to said point of said needle causing said surface tension of said liquid precursor to be overcome by the mutually repulsive forces of said injected charges to produce a plurality of charged liquid jets which break up into nanodrops.
A method for producing nanodrops comprising
- a. dissolving at least one base compound in a solvent to produce a liquid precursor,
- b. positioning within a hollow tube having an open end and a liquid precursor receiving end a solid electrically conductive needle electrode having a point extending out of said open end, said tube and said needle point having dimensions such that surface tension of said liquid precursor prevents flow of said liquid precursor from said open end,
- c. feeding said liquid precursor into said liquid precursor receiving end, and
- d. injecting mutually repulsive charges into said liquid precursor adjacent said open end such that mutually repulsive forces of said charges overcome said surface tension of said liquid precursor to produce a plurality of charged liquid jets which break up into nanodrops.
A method for producing nanodrops comprising
- a. dissolving at least one base compound in a solvent to produce a liquid precursor,
- b. positioning within a hollow tube having an open end and a liquid precursor receiving end a solid electrically conductive needle electrode having a point extending out of said open end, said tube and said needle point having dimension such that surface tension of said liquid precursor prevents flow of said liquid precursor from said open end,
- c. feeding said liquid precursor into said liquid precursor receiving end,
- d. injecting mutually repulsive charges into said liquid precursor adjacent said open end such that mutually repulsive forces of said charges overcome said surface tension of said liquid precursor to produce a plurality of charged liquid jets which break up into nanodrops, and
- e. directing said nanodrops to a target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.